ENGRAVER--NOT! IN THE GRAVE--ALMOST!

A note to Ces. Click on her name and view some extraordinary art by an extraordinary peep. I was commenting in her blog post, and (as happens frequently) I found myself writing a blog post--on HER blog! Imagine--grin! So this is my comment, here, instead of ummmm, there:

Engraving_by_derranged_gadgeteer (in Deviant Art)

 BLOG COMMENT

Ces, there is a reason why your drawings (somewhat-etching-looking) and art, appeal to and interest me so, aside from the fact that you are a master (mistress just didn't look good in this comment).

--In Cincinnati Ohio, during the early 1950's I applied for a job as an engraver apprentice. (Yesss, I was one of those musicians who had to supplement their income.) 

We were given a cutting tool, a piece of soft metal, and told to make "hundreds" of little marks in a very compact (SMALL) space. With an infinitesimal amount of instruction, then left on our own, we  future "American Engravers Society" members, on stools at long work benches, set (sat?) out to be tested on our "promise" as tomorrow's engravers. 

Out of 27 applicants only one passed the test--me. And I really wanted that job. And I was told "Come back tomorrow".

So excited was I about this job with its earnings potential and expectations, that I, so happy, felt like making merry. For me, reveling or rejoicing was in those days a lonely affair. One liter of cheep vodka--the kind you could still taste two days later--and some beer to keep hydrated. And the food? Well, none of that sort of thing for MY celebration!

As it turned out, the phone woke me 'early', about 11 AM. Boss wanted to know where is his newest employee? I gave him my "dentist pulled the wrong tooth" story, dressed, and went in to my new job. The foreman took one look at me, and I knew the jig was up. Discovery that their new "engraver-to-be" was just another common drunk, hurt me more than it did the engraving business.

Did they not realize that I would one day be essential to their very own business plan? Evidently not. My career ended ignominiously, as I should have presupposed. This was not my first encounter with peeps who just "did not understand" genius.

And so life rolled on....and on.

Today I am sober.
And I am REALLY not a genius...or had you guessed?
But I still love you, peeps!

--steveroni

MONDAY (WITHOUT EVEN 140 WORDS!)

Hey! Please don't get me wet NOW. 

I just rubbed sunscreen 

on my face and arms...Sheeeesh!

Micro-Fiction Monday is hostessed by Susan at Stony River. 
Go here to learn about and read more Micro-Fiction Monday.

 A corner of the Bach Yard of D-G (Daughter-Girl) 

with one of three dogs, her German Shepherd, 

age 7-months--chasing a ball.  

This IS a place of PEACE!

LAST INSTALLMENT

of 4,000-mile scooter trip
EXCEPT FOR BITS AND PIECES now and then

This final visit of my Trip 2010 is happening at the home of DG. This is where I began nearly three weeks ago. There is much love in this house..."DG" is "Daughter-Girl". She let me know that "DG" could mean "Dear God", or the preferred "Dear Goddess"--TWO big grins!

DG just told me that recently in her (yes, spacious!) backyard she picked up a dead baby animal, and DG cried as she carried it in her palm to the burial area. It turned out the dead baby animal was "playing 'possom". In fact the dead animal WAS a baby 'possom! Now the 'possom is a "protected animal" in this yard!

She has a plastic pool for the animals' (3 dogs and assorted critters) swimming pleasure.  In the water is sitting a large chunk of concrete block. DG explains this is for stranded frogs, who would drown in time, of exhaustion--trying to escape their wave-frenzied "sea", a two-meter diametered piece of bowl-shaped plastic.grows weeds

This is the same girl who has cultivated a garden of weeds--milkweeds--to keep a home for her friendly Monarch Butterflies, who flutter-by her yard to their milkweed universe OFTEN.

Before I leave you from DG's 'estate', there is one more significant reason one could never NOT like being here. I was taught this morning how to make use of a French Press (coffee maker). Oh, how simple life can be, when one knows H.O.W.  Now that I am making my own coffee, there is a sudden shortage of the bean in this house.
 
One thought before checking out tonight...

How 'awfully' LOVELY to be welcomed into the home of your daughter, when behind all that is my past: chaos, misunderstanding, hurt, powerlessness, deprivation, paranoia, fear, and dread. 

We are friends, we are daughter-and-Poppa, we are...LOVE! Thanks to the God-given program of Alcoholics Anonymous and the Twelve Steps.

Enough from me today--any day.
I am sober today.
Let's enjoy PEACE this Labor Day weekend.

--Steve

OASIS TOO! (Two)

OASIS TOO...TWO

While riding south on U.S. Route 27, I came upon a place
named Sebring, Florida.
Had no intention to stay
Wanted to be on my way.
Now, in my third day here---
In 55 words:
This is how it went down:

My "55"

Stopped here two days ago for a drink (water!).
Starbucks, McDonald's--Panera bread
Lady--at motel--Indian princess--said
Stay awhile. Rest a bit. For you, Friend of Bill

We have
Special rate
In this state

Visit meetings
Receive greetings
Of  Peeps
Who have not drank
Since last they sank
into that sea Of oblivion.

--steveroni 

If you wish to write some kind of story in exactly 55 words, let the G-Man know about it and he will respond. Then visit other 55-writers (there are many...) Go HERE

MAGPIE 30--MY NAME IS BOB AND I'M AN APPLE

BOBBING FOR AN APPLE?

Hey YOU! LADY! That is NOT how we are supposed to eat an apple.

Why Sir, is it your plan to teach me how to eat?

I'll try my best, Lady...First, you do not--not EVER--start from the outside.

Well Sir, then you tell me now: WHICH side?

(Achhhh! WOMEN! Cannot live with nor without these women.) You see Lady, it has ever and forever been a tradition to begin eating from the INSIDE to the outside. Understand?

But Sir, just how do I get inside to DO it?

Ah, yesss, Dear Lady...one day--or night--I will show you just that, but for now look at the top of your apple. SEE?  It's ME! I'm coming out from inside. It is simply--though not simple--the way we worms ALWAYS have done it. Sheeesh--grin!

--steveroni

This was inspired by Willow's blog Magpie Tales
Please visit HERE for more creative poems, stories etc!
And join us for simple, almost rule-free FUN!

YESSSS! ANOTHER TRIP LOG

LIGHTNER MUSEUM--ST AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA

A DAY IN THE LIFE OF....

 August 2009, as I rode through St Augustine, on Florida's east coast, just south of Jacksonville, I decided to stop for a few AA meetings, and "Meet the Peeps" (Sounds like "Meet the press", Holy Crapola!)...

Back in St Augustine today--2010--at noon I went to Serenity Club. Guess what? A Women's meeting! So, just momentarily and slightly bumped off the third rail, I remembered a lady, 30 years sober, last year saying she worked 32 years at the Lightner Museum, but I did not remember her name. So, wishing to meet with her again I used the time to go to that Museum--OH! What an interesting place of beauty:

--Old stuff, oily stuff (on canvass--grin!)
Grey stuff, clay stuff
From chairs to hairs (a shrunken head).
Musical instruments and surgical
Mundane and magical...

Statues and Carvings

All under one Huge roof

No luck looking for my AA lady-friend.  Person in charge of volunteers was no help at all...mainly because I had only few clues. I told her I met this lady at a meeting, etc. No help whatever.

I left, riding scooter right up the avenue. My DROID rang. Calling was the lady I had been seeking, RENE. She said her boss mentioned "a fellow on a motorcycle said he met someone who works here--at a meeting, way last year...Sheeeesh!"

Rene said she jumped up and said "That's ME!"  And she called me to return to the museum, this time to the BACK door! The "Family" door!
 
She guided me up to her office,and we had a great AA meeting--including coffee--the two of us with (combined) more than 65 years of sobriety, talking about our beloved AA program and Steps, like excited beginners.

Rene's son, probably between age 35-40 celebrated 10 months of sobriety yesterday. Her husband John, also an AA long-timer, and Rene, decided to take son Greg and me out to "do" Mexican dinner. And DO we DID! Out of this world GoooooD!

Tomorrow we will all meet once more at the 7 AM meeting, just before I leave St Augustine. And ya know what? I'll be BACK here! Why? Because I  L O V E it here!

I'd guess the real gist of this story is that I had said to the "museum lady" earlier, "Well, God just must NOT want us to meet up this year."  And that's JUST when God took over.

Many smaller Puzzling Pieces of this chance meeting, lovely dinner, and promise to meet again happened, but this post would become bloated, and maybe even lengthy, even by MY standards--grin!

PEACE and LOVE to 

All you peeps, seriously!

Whoever wishes, feel free
To spend the day as me...
Not to think of a spree
Or a single drink, you see
We're sober, happy, joyous

...and FREE!

--steveroni

STILL "ON THE ROAD" (AGAIN?)

TONIGHT
 
In St Augustine, Florida, and the sound of a train nearby is so peaceful, so reminiscent of days gone by. I had forgotten that mile-long trains still snake their way--whistles a blowing--across states, countries and directly behind motels where Peeps are trying to sleep! Fortunately, the rumbling sounds of a long train are to me the same as that lullaby of sea-waves which used to rock my boat...yes, and float my boat.

I stay awake just long enought to realize what is happening, then fall into deep sleep, before I've had time to pray, to enjoy...OMG, does that sound "familiar" to anyone here?--grin!

YESTERDAY
 
I checked over my scooter carefully--something I should do each time before putting up the kickstand. Anyway, I found the front tire looking strangely like a seriously blocked colon, all lumpy. No wonder! And I thought all the roads in Georgia and both Carolinas were in terrible shape. It was my front tire creating the extremely rough rides! Half mile from motel is a very large dealer where my scooter is featured. When i saw the SUZUKI sign, I thanked God.

Mechanic said it had been a long time since he'd seen a tire that bad still on the road. I got a new one, and am very happy about that. A blowout is something I do not even wish to dream about. Smooth riding happens...NOW!

TOMORROW
 
"Indulge myself" Day: I'll treat myself to a couple AA meetings, do laundry, eat at a Spanish restaurant two blocks away, and participate in a favorite activity, as follows:

 A friend rode on a scooter 22,000 miles several years ago. For world PEACE! She did not make speeches, she did not address conferences. ALIX--age about 33, went all over the US asking peeps (one-at-a-time) what they thought about PEACE--WORLD peace. In this way, she had not the goal to create world peace, but rather call attention to it. Anyway, that is what I've been doing the past couple days, and will continue. I simply ask strangers (when we get to talking,  like "Where you from, stranger?"--grin!), "What are your thoughts regarding world peace?" It does not surprise me that peeps simply have so much ELSE on their minds, that world peace is way down at the bottom of most lists.

OVERALL
 
St Augustine (not in the downtown but several miles inland) is a MOST comfortable place for me to be. I feel much at home here, and will stay another day, sort of regroup, catch up on sleep, and "think about world peace"--grin!

Also I think much about how easy it is to be cheerful, upbeat, positive. I become more aware of  how to be helpful to others.  Be grateful for those who have been helpful to me/us. I consider these as special attributes of peeps who live the AA way of life, and of bloggers in general: sharers of experience, strength and hope for happiness, joy, love--and world peace.

I sometimes feel like a loner (a hermit? God forbid!) out here "on the road"...but not A-lone. Does that make sense? It continues to amaze me how utterly nice people are--strangers. How giving of themselves, and yes, how spiritual. At everyone I smile, and ya know what? they smile BACK! isn't that marvelous?

Have I mentioned the many times I sit under an overpass during a storm?  Invariably I'll be joined by from two to eight bikers, and in minutes we are like old friends, laughing, joking, believing.

It is time to shut down for this day, and anticipate the next day, ready for whatever is sent this way...there is always something new, strange, exciting and wonderful (full of wonder!)...May god bless you peeps.

I am sober today--had to tell my friend the Spanish chef, "NO WINE in my sauce, OKAY?"

And in my heart there is love for everyone, believe that!
PEACE!

--steveroni

MICRO FICTION MONDAY #46

MICRO FICTION MONDAY #46

"Daddy, are we there yet?"

"I have to go wee!"

"Can we go back home? I forgot KitCat!"

"I gotta poo!"

"I'm HUNGRY!"

(I need BEER) 

Micro-Fiction Monday, hosted by Susan at Stony River.!

Write a 140 Character (including spaces) or less response to a random picture that she gives us
weekly, post it on your blog, then go visit her ...here!

It's fun, and quite a challenge.

Try it, you'll like it!

Peace...!!!

MAGPIE TALES AMENDED #29--PRIN-GRIN!

AMENDED: Just now I went to office for their "Continental (stale doughnut?) breakfast. Guess what? The place has closed down!! This is TRUE. Altogether! Guess I got here yesterday in the nick of time--grin!
(No wonder it was "$33 cash--pay in advance!")

Lots of rain forecast for today where I am riding, so I'll cover my gear NOW instead of later..."under an overpass"

May God/Allah Bless you ALL!

A "MOSTLY TRUE" STORY

In a little part of a little town named "Littleton" 

(actually, Walterboro) on State Route 63 in 

South Carolina, I came upon this beautifully secluded--yes, another--OASIS in my travel day. 

"I hope there is 24-hour coffee pot", 

I spoke out loud to nobody!

MOTEL OFFICE

The girl who checked me in ($33...cash only) looked a bit under the weather, she was a member of the housekeeping department. In fact she WAS the h/keeping department. So I asked her if the manager was in, and she responded, "Nope--they's out to a drunk-brawl party this evenin'..."

Me: Do you know when they will return?

She: Nope!

By the way, are there any meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous around here?

Well, i dunno. Me an' my husban' don't go out much, ya know?

My next questioning was in regard to WiFi (Wireless computer access). (Peeps, did I tell you this is mostly a true story which happened only MOMENTS ago?)

She told me I would need a PIN number, she called it a "prin number"-- whatever--grin! To get the "prin" I had to pull a chair in that externally  elegant lobby, reach to the top of an antique bookcase, and pick up the old, dusty, hot, hot router. There it was, Scotch-Taped to the bottom: the prin number: 578839400 (it was written "prin", BTW!!!--grin!). 

And peeps, do ya know? It WORKED, and here I am blogging this really--and I AM serious, YEP!--this really WEIRD piece of my trip. 

The lady brought me a towel, a coffee pot and maker, some filters, etc., and showed me how to turn on the water, believe this. 

As far as I can determine, at the present time, 6:30 PM Saturday night, there is as yet but ONE guest in this place...ME!  72 rooms, and only vehicle--a motorscooter.

Peeps, I TRULY feel as if I'm a character in a Stephen King story here. I keep walking around to the front of this building to see if my scooter is still there. Oh yes, I forgot to show you a photo of the REAR of this place...MY ROOM!

NOT MUCH--BUT IT'S HOME!!

This was inspired by Willow's blog Magpie Tales
Please go visit for more creative poems, stories etc!
And join in, so simple, almost rule-free--most of all
IT IS FUN!!!! Go HERE for quick information....

--steveroni "A mostly true story"

"55"-WORD FRIDAY--RIDE ON, STEVERONI

 THE CRICKET CHIRPS, THE KETTLE SINGS

NOTE: 

Fri., Sat., Sun., riding south on I-95 

toward St Augustine FL

THURSDAY:

 Riding EAST (my deepest apologies, Mr G-Man!) across the state of Virginia toward Norfolk, I felt suddenly Tired, Hungry, Lonely--but NOT Angry ("H.A.L.T.")...three out of four, though, is NOT good for this alcoholic. I blinked once, and there before me stood this little old building--beckoning, only one U-Turn away.

Inside, two women owners became immediately the friendliest of friends. Another of those "on-the-road" connections--blessings--on which I thrive. I was introduced to every trucker, logger and deer-slayer (Ugh!) who stopped by, as "this alcoholic violin-playing scooter rider from Naples Flow-reeda".

More to this story will just have to be posted another time, but my "55"-word Friday was thus inspired. See MR G-Man, if you are interested in writing one of these. It is simple, and fun:

LIZ--MAKING STEVERONI A POT OF BREW

 Out of gas--almost
Out of song
Out of energy--
Been riding too long

Vision appeared
Just west of Emporia
Place called "Woodruff"
Highway 58! Virginia

Chicken salad
Gasoline
Laughter
Stories for blogging
Men been logging   
 

Will remember always
Liz and lifelong friend
Happy faces
Happy places

Oasis of giving
Day of living
Ride on

--steveroni