 The Shaffer Journal
Volume 9 † Issue 12 † December 2003
[Internet Stuff] [Hockey Puck] [The Mountains of Ao]
[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 friend, Leo. We all loved you, Kitty! Click the cat graphic to visit her Memorial page. Kitty born June 6, 1982. Died July 9, 1997. Please fill out our email form below to tell us how we are doing or make suggestions. >^..^<  Ebony: We want to meow to all use human beans and ani-mules every which where a big happy holidays. We will tale our annual Christmas story at the end, so use all read everything from the top to the bottom of our very good meow article pawed by us cats naturally. >^..^<
Abby: Peas and carrots, Ebony, what is an ani-mule? O, never meow. We got family human beans here with us, and Ebony and I have escaped from them a few times. That is always fun. Ebony enjoys escaping more than I do though. I not like the outside when it rains. >^..^<
Ebony: Meow, it been windy too. It is enough to make my black fur stand on end. You nose, Abby, that my old California boyfriend sent me a present and not you. It is a humidor full of catnip with some really fresh. >^..^<
Abby: I got to use the fresh leaf catnip. I drooled like a deranged dog, I did. You got inside our nip box and played with all our cat toys what we not play with for years. That fresh catnip leafs are very powerful for us cats. >^..^<
Ebony: Well, catnip number one, but the family bird is really interesting. You and I could have lunch out of that yellow bird, I meow, but the human beans keep it in a cage. And whenever I paw on the cage I get sprayed with a water bottle. My dignity gets all wet. Abby just runs when you grab the water bottle, but I need spritzed. >^..^<
Abby: Meow, I got Tony bean back by throwing up on his nice, new folder of important stuffers. He went ewwww, but he still likes to twist my ears. I like it when he twists my ears. He is a strange human bean, I meow. >^..^<
Ebony: O, use is stranger than even him. And stop paw tapping on my tail. Hisspit! Meow, Christmas! >^..^<
Abby: Ice will start this year's Christmas story. It was the night before Christmas. And what should happen, but a pack of evil dogs come drooling over to Santa Clawws sleigh. Santa threw chunks of coal at them dogs too. >^..^<
Ebony: Use is ruining the story, Abby. The sleigh was being pulled by dogs. Their names were Coal, Drool, and Mutt. Mutt had a red nose what was scratched by cats. When he pulled the sleigh he yelped and was a mess. But Santa had toys and catnip for all the cats. Cats ran through the house and meowed for milk and treats. >^..^<
Abby: Yes, lizard tails what been knocked off smart-alecky lizards. Those are good holiday treats. Yumm. >^..^<
Ebony: I never heard of such a thing, Abby. We are supposed to be tailing our Christmas story. There has to be presents and Santa Clawws. Use nose, Abby, we never finish our Christmas stories because of you! >^..^<
Abby: I think you are way too serious for Christmas and should sleep with them sleigh dogs. Any meow, in keeping with our tradition, us cats have adequately ruined yet another Christmas story. See ya next year! >^..^<
Internet Stuff
The DVD films from http://www.NetFlix.com are packed with extras and full of good entertainment. The Haunting was a good spook flick. Finding Nemo was a super Disney film, which was the best movie of the year. We watched it several times. The Education of Little Tree was heartwarming and a classic. The movie Message in a Bottle was a wonderful love story. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines was really great up to the end, which left us wanting way more than delivered. Daddy Day Care was a funny family movie. Lara Croft: Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life was a good action movie with super action sequences. The film was a fine adventure. Kiss Me Guido was funny and charming. There are a lot of movies left in our queue that we are eagerly awaiting. Several websites were useful this month. The Internet was instrumental in rebuilding our laptop. The laptop started acting up and was sent to a repair facility in Memphis, Tennessee. We used the Internet to talk with Technical Support representative from http://www.dell.com. Meanwhile, we had to use our desktop computer which is loaded with the Windows 98 Second Edition operating system software. That basically sucks, because the software is slow. The old 1996 tower computer was even slower. We survived until the laptop came back repaired with a brand new mother board. We had to use Microsoft websites to update and register our Windows XP operating system. We updated our Microsoft Office applications as well. We had to talk with Microsoft technicians online a couple of times as well. We even checked the status of deliveries at Airborne Express site. In The Keys
Vote Larry Shaffer for Marathon City Council
The struggle to preserve and protect workforce housing goes on. Among the many things that one can do is to support Larry Shaffer in his run for Marathon City Council. We need volunteers and contributions. The campaign takes only checks made out to the "Campaign Account of Larry Shaffer." Any amount over $100 up to $500 will require listing your occupation to satisfy state law. We are not accepting checks from developers, redevelopers, contractors, or real estate agencies involved in displacing people from their homes. Send your checks to Larry Shaffer City Council Campaign, PO Box 501833, Marathon, FL, 33050-1833. Call 305-743-9648 for details.
Paid Political Advertisement Paid For In-Kind By
Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company, Approved by Larry Shaffer Celebrate the holidays with The Pineapple Gallery's opening reception on Thursday, December 18, 2003, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM at 1130 Duval Street, Key West. You may call them at (305) 294-1087. Another Christmas celebration for me is having my family here. We plan on having my mother's wake at the Gulfstream Tiki at 1:00 PM. After the wake, we will be spreading my mother's ashes out beyond John Sawyer Bank. The continuing saga with the supposed owners of Gulfstream Trailer Park and Marina who call themselves Sandler at Greater Marathon Bay gets even nastier. Jay Pulis threw me out of the office, shut off my electric and water even though I was all paid up, and hassles everyone else for no good reason, legal or otherwise. Regardless, residents continue to withstand the enormous pressures and stresses put upon them by this evil company with the likes of Eugene Spano, Harry Rose, and James Larry Rutherford. The Thanksgiving pot luck dinner was a success despite having to beg to have the Tiki power turned back on. Otherwise, things are about normal. Our campaign staff has visited and played at the American Legion, the Elks, and Overseas Lounge. My niece, Toni Lee, drove the boat all over the bay. Toni Lee and I visited John Sawyer Bank, while my brother and I visited Sombrero Reef. On our return we toured Boot Key Harbor via Sisters Creek through the bridge and back to Seven Mile Bridge. One interesting thing was that the truck spit up a part on the ground, which was necessary to the clutch. Andy and Dave's Garage put that right in a jiffy. I was elected by the Middle Keys Community Land Trust to be on the board of directors. I was also assigned as the chair of the Membership Committee. This was a good month. Miscellany: Did you know that Arkansas's state bird is the Mocking? The flower is the Apple blossom. The tree is the Pine. The capital is Little Rock. Statehood was granted June 15, 1836. Lastly, the Lucky Street Gallery features contemporary fine art and sculptures. This Key West store is open daily from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. They are located at 1120 White Street. Their telephone number is 305-294-3973 and fax 292-0071. Their email address is luckstg@aol.com. There are shows every two weeks. Call for details. That's it this month! Poetry Corner
“No Room” 01.12.90 [Larry's uncle]
by David R. Canter © 2003 L. E. Shaffer A child was born in Bethlehem
So many years ago
Sent from god up above
To us mortals here below
His birthplace was a manger
No room was in the inn
The wisemen traveled from afar
To see his life begin
A gleaming star, the angels songs
The adoration of all men
Were showered on this baby boy
Kings were in awe of Him
He brought them hope, a way of life
Peace for their troubled souls
He gave them love, a helping hand
And a faith to make them grow
His life that ended on the cross
In payment for our sins
Began in that lowly manger
There was no room in the inn © 2003 David R. Canter Hockey Puck
The NHL Florida Panthers are struggling even though they are a better team than their record. In NASCAR, all three of my favorite drivers finished in the top nine to share the platform at the annual awards ceremony. I can't wait for the Daytona 500 in February next year. The NFL Miami Dolphins won three games in a row and got our hopes up, but then lost to the New England Patriots. Now they will be lucky to make the playoffs. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not likely to repeat as Super Bowl champions this year let alone make the playoffs. In the NCAA football bowl picture, Ohio State will go to a bowl, but they will not defend their championship. LSU and Oklahoma will fight for the championship even though the nation's number one team USC is not playing in the championship game. The NBA's Los Angeles Lakers are beginning to dominate the league again. Tiger finished as the world's number one PGA player and won the Player of the Year award. The MLB's champions, the Florida Marlins, are trying very hard to keep their World Series team together, but that is very hard given the money involved. Guest Articles
We have various guests this journal. As always everything is copyright of the author. Nicole Harris
Marathon High School
Mrs. Loggie’s American Gov’t Class
City Council FCAT Tutor Proposal
What could the City of Marathon do for Marathon High School? There are many things that the City Council could do for Marathon High School. Many seniors everyday have to face the fact that they can’t graduate because they have to pass a specific test. In the City Council there are many people with skills that they have experienced or have learned. These skills maybe helpful with helping us master the skills that are on the test. In my opinion be a good way for them to help Marathon High School is by spending a little time with us to help us master test skills. That would be the greatest help of all, because we all would like to pass the FCAT. I think everyone wants to graduate. How the City Council could help would be to spend some time with a group from each grade level to help them pass. This would benefit the City Council because they would have the opportunity to get to know the kids at Marathon so they could get an idea about the future for the kids of Marathon High School. If the City Council ever needed to know what the youth of Marathon wants to happen in the future, they would get a look into what is going on in Marathon from young adult’s point of view. This would benefit the kids by giving them the motivation they need to pass the test along with a little study time to help them. They would also get a chance to know how it feels to be a part of a government organization. They would also know that local government cares about its future voters, workers, and homeowners.
This idea would be inexpensive. The only cost would be the time spent by the kids and time spent by the councilmen. The time doesn’t have to be that long; it could be for about one hour a week. The kids who have the lowest scores on the test will be the ones who would get the time with the councilmen; it would also depend on how many Council members would agree to volunteer. Where they could meet is at the city council building or at the school. I think this is a good idea because I am one of those students who have had problems with the FCAT. If I had someone was able to tutor me, I would not only be very grateful for the time, but my confidence level would be increased, I’d know that the city cares about me, and I’m sure I would pass the FCAT!© 2003 Nicole Harris Digital Sail wireless Internet services The options in the city of Marathon for broadband Internet service are quite limited. Digital Sail provides wireless Internet services at a decent price. The speed is good, especially the upload speeds. The service is second to none. The people who run and operate Digital Sail are the best. Please see their ad at the bottom.© 2003 Digital Sail The Mountains of Ao
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
Merchant Occupational License #48210-0076151
PO Box 501833
Marathon FL 33050-1833
(305) 743-9648 voice/data/fax Internet URLs: www.RunesofAo.com
www.RunesofAo.com/roa/
www.RunesofAo.com/aobp/
www.RunesofAo.com/ebony/
www.RunesofAo.com/abby/ Publication date: November 28, 2003
Author: L. E. Shaffer
Company: Shaffer Novels/Poetry Company &
Shaffer Internet Publishing Company
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