The Great Psychedelic Armadillo Picnic, A “Walk” in Austin by Kinky Friedman; 2004; Crown Journeys, New York; 140 pages;917.6431 F911g; 8/29-8/30

I have visited San Antonio and now would like to visit Austin. The Kinkster being who he is has not taken us on a literal walk in Austin, but what he terms a spiritual walk. An out of body experience as it were, Kinky shares with us the highlights of the city, physically, culturally (not a word usually associated with Kinky) and historically. Another fine book in the Crown Journeys series and as in so many other books by Kinky Friedman, Willie Nelson is front and center. But he can be found in Austin either or a bus or on his golf course. RRRR

On Deck;War Boys by M.A. Schaffner

I am pro choice, although I often act as I have no choice. I have a choice in how I respond to things. At work if something angers me I often don’t say anything, because it would be inappropriate. However at home I touch Ruth Ann and the boys if something angers me. And the really sad part is I don’t even stop to think about what I am going to say or how I am going to respond. It is if I am an unthinking volcano of rage. Whenever Ruth Ann and the boys talk to me I need to stop and make a choice as to how I am going to respond. This will be difficult. Many times I realize that I am not really responding to what they are saying but to tapes that are playing from my past and am often hearing another voice intertwined with theirs. I must stop, think and respond instead of being Volcano Dad. I must make the choice that is best for others.

Scimitar SL-2 by Patrick Robinson; 2004; HarperCollinsPublisher, New York; 420 pages; Fiction Robinson; 8/26-8/29

I will admit that I skipped and skimmed pages here and there. The reason way too much technical jargon. Robinson seems to slipping into Clancy territory here, heavy on the technical and shorting on the humanity. He is on the edge of getting too heavy handed, it if wasn’t for his characterization of four or five main characters this would have been a waste. The Hamas operatives from Barracuda 945 have a second submarine and explode a couple of volcanoes, including Mt. St. Helens as a prelude to their main strike. They intend to detonate a couple of missiles and cause a major volcanic eruption which will in turn cause a mega tsumani that will wipe out the east coast of the United States. The chase is on and anything with Admiral Arnold Morgan in it will be entertaining. The strangest thing in the whole book was the characterization of Senator Edward Kennedy, the exact opposite of my perception of him. RRr

On Deck; The Great Psychedelic Amarillo Picnic, A “walk” in Austin by Kinky Friedman

I believe in the power of Prayer. I had seen it so many times that it would be impossible to believe. Here is my prayer.

Lord, help me make time to spend with you. It doesn’t make to be a regular time every day, that makes it seems too much like a duty. Show me how I can use moments each day to talk with and listen to you. Show me yourself in your creations and your other children. Speak to me through nature and your other children. Thanks for using Kelly, Twyla, Flip, Cathy and Cathi among others to hear you speak. Put my name on others minds so that I can be a shining light for you to my family, the people in my neighborhood, the people that I work with, and everyone that I see each day. This is my prayer for today. You know Dad/Mom that there are other things that I need help with and you can help me with those.

Those of you reading I would ask that you would pray for me. I want to be a beacon of God’s love to my family, and everyone else that I come into contact with. The people that I have the hardest time acting like I love them consistently is Ruth Ann, Dan, David and my parents. There are too many things that I take personally from each of them, that aren’t meant that way. I am not teaching them how to be beacons of Gods’ love.

Thank you.

Time’s Magpie, A Walk in Prague by Myla Goldberg; 2004; Crown Journeys, New York; 140 pages; 914.3712 G618t; 8/25-8/26

Are we there yet? I want to go to Prague. Another winning entry in the Crown Journeys’ series. Myla Goldberg, author of Bee Season, expatriate of Prague, takes us on a walking tour of her hometown. Her eloquence and ability to paint with words is extraordinary. It is interesting to find her explanation of the title and meet many interesting people from all the different eras of Pragues life. One of the most interesting things is how noon was determined in Prague for many years. If I go to Prague I will reread this before I go and perhaps take the audio book version with me. RRRRr

On Deck: Scimitar SL-2 by Patrick Robinson