I believe in serendipity, especially when it comes to the discovery of a good book. Air Jordan 7 Retro At a Friends of the Library sale, I came upon The Wilderness World of John Muir, Edited by Edwin Way Teale. polska biega asics Having ancestors who are Scots-Irish and knowing members of the Muir Clan, I was intrigued. cheap albion gold With this book, I encountered the real man, a real Scottish man who had changed the world by changing man’s view and estimation of his environment. Reading an overview of his on-foot journeys, reminded me of Guy Clarke’s song, “Walking Man.” The book is dedicated to The Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, The National Parks Association, and all those who are fighting the good fight to preserve what John Muir sought to save. I had heard of Muir, but knew little about him. soldes nike 2017 From this book, I learned many surprising things about him–his Scottish outspokenness, his family, his journeys and journals, and most of all, I realized how ignorant much of America is about this Scotsman, who came to a land rich in beauty and wanted the world to know. buy albion silver Muir had a toughness that few even in those hard frontier days had. Bulldog Football Jerseys buy albion gold According to the jacket of the book, from 1838-1914, he covered most of the American wilderness alone and on foot, without a gun or sleeping bag with only a sackful of provisions (prob. Portland Trail Blazers cheap albion silver hardtack and tea) that would have challenged the will of the most dedicated ascetic monk. Air Max 90 Yeezy The introduction ends with this very fitting quote: “His [Muir] finest monument is the wild beauty he called attention and helped preserve–beauty, however, that is never entirely safe, beauty that needs as vigilant protection and tomorrow as it needed yesterday (xx). albion silver Muir once said, “A man in his books,” he once wrote, “may be said to walk the earth long after he had gone.” Muir did make our world better. Canotte Los Angeles Clippers albion gold He loved nature as much, if not more, than the Transcendentalists, and without a doubt, I think he knew nature better than they. Toronto Raptors cheap albion gold If I’ve tweaked your interest, find this book. new balance 1600 femme buy albion gold Used copies can be had cheaply on Amazon.

Since it’s so close to Halloween, I decided to publish here a short story I wrote some time ago that is based on the legend of La Llarona. I’d like to know what you think of it, so leave a comment if you can.

BODIES IN THE TRINITY: by Rickey Pittman

A story of La LLorona

Evil is a true thing in Mexico. It goes about on its own legs. Maybe some day it will come to you. Maybe it already has—Cormac McCarthy, All the Pretty Horses I AM LA LLARONA, AND I WEEP FOR MY CHILDREN. cheap albion gold For centuries of nights I have wandered along the waters throughout Mexico. College Football Jerseys And yes, I walk along the banks of your Trinity River. albion gold I have strolled along your Turtle Creek, your Bachman Lake and the other waters. You are surprised to find me in your country? Do not be. No, in my lifetime, your land too was once a part of Mexico.

I am a Mexican ghost, born of a desert tragedy. On that dreadful night, when I realized my lover had abandoned us, I blew out the last candle I had lit for him and drowned my two little children, damning myself forever. But as I was a whore in the eyes of all, what else could I have done? I had given this man my virginity, my honor, my future. No one would help us—-not my parents, not the Holy Church, not the residents of our pueblo. adidas stan smith rose gold I am forever lost now—in the night, in the madness, pain, hopelessness, grief, and loneliness. Ay, mis hijos, ¿Donde Estan mis hijos? But I have found I am not so alone. cheap albion silver One night, I came upon a couple–shouting, fighting. asics gel lyte 5 donna Two young children clutched each other nearby, watching. A boy and a girl. They so reminded me of my own. “Jorge, please, take us home,” the woman said. “The children are frightened.” The man spat at her and threw her to the ground. “No.

I do not care where you go, but you will not return with me.” He cursed, then stormed out of sight. When I came to her, she was weeping. “Why do you weep, querida?” I asked. She shook her head and did not answer, wiping fiercely at the tears on her cheeks. I lifted her chin with my hand so she would look at me. Air Jordan 4 Retro “What is your name?” “Veronica.” “He was your man, was he not? And now he has left you? Answer me.” “Yes. But who are you? Are you an angel?” “Yes, querida. I am your angel tonight—your guide and guardian.” “Oh, thank you!” She clutched my legs and buried her tear-stained face in my dress. Her weeping tore my heart. “Jorge has abandoned me. And now who will take care of my children?” She clenched her fists and held them against her face. I sat next to her and wrapped my arms around her. “I will help you take care of them. I am your sister. Do you not see the resemblance?” I brushed my fingers through her long dark hair and looked deep into the black-pearl eyes. “I understand your pain. Look into the river. buy albion silver The river holds the secret. The river will tell you what to do.” Dipping my hand into the water, I held my arm up and watched the drops slip back into the river. As she sobbed and stared at the water, I held out my hands to the children. “Come, hijos.” I led them back to Veronica, and we sat together, staring at the river. In the distance I could see the Dallas skyline, and even in our remote location, the sirens, and sounds of the city roared in my head. I knew what the mother would soon do, and so I kissed each of them and left them there by the water, and followed Jorge. buy albion gold I found him leaning against a tree smoking. He smelled of tequila and beer. I stepped behind him and gently tapped him on the shoulder. Turning, he said, “Jesus, you scared me. buy albion gold Buenos noches.” He attempted to walk away, but I moved in front of him. “Ah, but you would not leave me so soon? And such a handsome man.” I stroked his cheek and placed my hand on his chest. “Such very fine clothes. Surely you are able to give a woman all the things she needs.” “So the lady wants something from me, tonight, eh?” I leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and put my arms around his neck. “I knew a man very much like you once. Why are you here, guapo, my handsome one? You are all alone and along sad waters.” “I’m looking for a beautiful woman like yourself.” I could see the lust in his eyes. “Why won’t you marry Veronica?” He pushed me away. albion silver “You know her, don’t you? She sent you? Does she think she can trick me into keeping her? Why should a successful man marry beneath himself? My family disproves of her. As they would of you.” The arrogance in his eyes enraged me. cheap albion gold “But she will have nothing without you.” “She is no longer my concern.” “I know you, Jorge, and many more like you.” I clutched him and kissed him hard, biting his lip. “So the lady wishes to play hard?” “You have no idea how hard I can play.” I took him by the hand toward the river. “Come, lie with me.” He grinned. “You will not forget this night.” “Nor you,” I said. He struggled to live, but it was in vain. nike requin tn pas cher In those last moments, when I held his head under the water, I knew his thoughts. How can a woman be so strong? Will my body be found tomorrow in the dirty water of the Trinity? You think I’m cruel. A murderer of my own children. A malevolent spirit. adidas original pas cher fille Perhaps. But I am no more cruel than your society, which drowns your little ones in violence, in drugs, in neglect. It is a terrible thing to lose a child. asics sneakers sklep If you listen in the quiet of the night, you will hear me weep for my children, and for yours. They are all my children now. I want to save them, but I don’t know how. Ay, mis hijos, mis hijos. ¿ Donde estan mis hijos? And Dallas has many drowning children for me to cry for.

Civil War Fiction Books about the Civil War continue to be churned out. I think the War Between the States must be one of the most popular topics to write about. Through the years, I’ve managed to build up a respectable library on the War. I’m working on a book for one of my publishers, Booklocker, on how to write about the Civil War. albion silver This book is on the list of my future projects, and as soon as I get a lot of rat killing done, I can see to it. cheap albion gold As an English teacher for both the high school and college levels, I’ve read and taught many books about the Civil War that are in the genre of fiction. If you’re a teacher, or just one who is interested in reading good Civil War fiction, here’s a list of those books with a few comments. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. An all time best seller and classic on the Civil War—and with good reason. buy albion gold I don’t think anyone has written anything comparable. cheap albion gold It is a masterpiece. Unfortunately, few in the modern generation have read it. Few have even seen the movie, one of the greatest movies of all time. buy albion gold Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier The movie was good, the book is better, but as they say, “Never judge a book by its movie.” This novel is rich in detail, honest about the Confederates who fought in the war, and more or less written from a Confederate-friendly point of view. His second epic novel on the Civil War didn’t have as much success, in spite of the big bucks he received for it. Andersonville by McKinlay Kantor. When I first began reading this novel, I was expecting more of the usual Yankee-point-of-view misinformation and propaganda. I was delightfully surprised. albion gold An honest representation of both sides and an unsettling description of this Georgia prisoner of war camp. cheap albion silver In a future article, I’ll write about some other pieces of literature. buy albion silver These should get you started.

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Rock-a-bye baby,

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A Review of Beuowulf: Retold by Gary Whitaker I still remember the first time I encountered the text of Beowulf. Air Jordan 5 Donna I was a NT Greek major at Abilene Christian University and one of the readings in British Literature was of course, Beuowulf. I was stunned and mesmerized. As I entered the kennings and litotes and other literary devices of my Viking ancestors, I knew I had found something that touched my soul and heart. College Football Jerseys Steve Weathers, a life-long friend, was my instructor, and as he taught the Anglo-Saxon account of the Viking tale, my soul took flight and in my imagination, I walked the mead-halls as a dragon hunter. Scarpe Jordan Basket The next significant time I encountered Beowulf was with Gary Whitaker, a storyteller who generously encouraged and prompted me to pursue Scottish-Irish storytelling. I owe him a great deal. In addition to the storytelling encouragement, I found a man who loved Beowulf as much as I did—a man who understood the tale, who felt it in his bones, and as I listened to his account, I heard the voices of the ancient bards and scops retelling one of the stories that made me decide to become an English major. Nike Air Max 2016 Dames Zwart I’m delighted to say that Whitaker has made a DVD that relates the tale of Beowulf, and one that does it well. chaussures nike air max pas cher You can find Whitaker as a storyteller at such prestigious events as the North Texas Irish Festival. You can order his DVD of Beowulf on his website below. nike He has other CDs and DVDs that would interest anyone who is fascinated by Celtic or Norse mythology or legends, including Tales of Ancient Warriors, Summer of the Red Dragon, and Something Wicked. For anyone who loves ancient legend and literature, hearing Whitaker as a storyteller is a mesmerizing and unforgettable experience. nike air max 90 donna Whitaker’s website is here: http://www.storymantales.com/ He is approachable, so listen to his samples and drop him an email. nike air max pas cher I highly recommend him. I’d love to hear your thoughts about what you find.

“Chillicothe Rain” by Roger Alan Wade It seems like it was a few months ago. cheap albion gold I was returning to Louisiana from my tour in the Rio Grande Valley and was listening to Outlaw Country on Sirius Satellite in my Toyota RAV and to the Big Ass Happy Family Jubilee (Always a great program!) when Roger Alan Wade did this song that has haunted me since I heard it. I consider it one of the best songs I’ve ever heard, with its unforgettable imagery and strong lyrics. buy albion gold I’ve been eagerly waiting for it to be released and it was included on his new album, Southbound Train. cheap albion gold I’m ordering the whole CD as I like every song on it. You can get this song “Chillicothe Rain” or the whole CD on iTunes or Amazon or from his Myspace page (here). albion gold I’ve listened and transcribed the lyrics. albion silver If I’ve made any mistakes, please email me or leave a comment. buy albion silver “Chillicothe Rain” D Low down in Ohio From the day that he was born G Charlie hit that hard road D Rolling like a thunderstorm Trouble as his shadow Larceny in his blood G They slapped him in the castle D For lighting up some peckerwood, G He got 11-29 the first time D Rode it out like train Walked down to the bus line A D Through the Chillicothe rain   D/CVariation/Bm/A CHORUS: G Some people stay in hell D Just because they know the names of the streets Some lay their soul on the anvil A And on the hammer, hell that’s me, D Sorry for the trouble G The worry and the pain D Sorry I never had the sense to get out of A D the Chillicothe rain   He hung around them pool halls Like to never found a job Finally started bouncing for some dude Connected to the Steubenville mob Fell hard for a dancer She took him for a ride She could have cleared him with her answer She got on the stand and lied He got ten years with good behavior Ten years and the mark of Cain The guard hollered See you later, through the hard Chillicothe rain. REPEAT CHORUS: Charlie stayed clear of trouble For a year he walked that line Trying to rebuild from the rubble And set things straight in his mind One night he got a phone call Said, Mama, I’ll be right back. buy albion gold She’d just killed the porch light When she heard sirens down by the track The score he swore he’d settle Got him more than a ball and chain Got him the Lord’s prayer and Satan’s chair In the Chillicothe rain. cheap albion silver CHORUS: (Variation) Some people stay in hell Just because they know the name of the streets Some lay their soul on the anvil And on the hammer, hell that’s me My storm will be over When they run lightning through my brain By the time you read this I’ll be a lily white mist In the Chillicothe rain.

I’ve been a fan of Roger Alan Wade for some time. Here’s a song of his I heard that I liked. albion gold The lyrics may be a little rough for some, but I think it would be a great song to do at a bar with the right crowd. buy albion gold I love the imagery suggested by the paradoxical title. cheap albion silver Deguello is a Spanish word meaning beheading or throat-slashing and then to attach it to our word lullaby, makes for a strong image. cheap albion gold I think it’s a song that alludes to those living and surviving (or not surviving) on the edges or underbelly of our society. albion silver Maybe we all start out looking for a nursery rhyme or fairytale, then find out that life has written a much harder story for us to play out. cheap albion gold It’s a song that should make us think. buy albion silver “Deguello Lullaby” by Roger Alan Wade Jack & Jill went up a hill Jack jumped into a moonshine still Little Boy Blue blowed his horn Bo Peeps in the meadow, knee deep into porn. Chorus: And it’s a hey deedle deeddle The spoon and the needle, The cat jumped over New York Man’s best friend just played violin And the dish ran away with the fork. Chorus: There was an old woman, She lived in a shoe, Tweedle dumb tweedle dee and tweedle me too, Cinderella fell by in a four-door sedan, I ran off with Alice to wonderland. buy albion gold Chorus: Little Jack Horner Is back in the corner He axed where I’m from I said I’m a foreigner Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall, And I walked down the stairs to make a phone call.

In my searching for material about the Rio Grande Valley, I stumbled on Cartel: The Coming Invasion of Mexico’s Drug Wars by Sylvia Longmire.

I ordered and read her book and decided I need to write a short review. Sylvia has also agreed to an interview on this blog, which will follow this posting shortly. I’m a bit overwhelmed by the topic, but I did want to express a few thoughts about Longmire’s well-written book. The title alone is a foreshadowing of the content. Adidas NMD Runner Italia Anyone who has given thought to the anarchy and death in Mexico, especially Northern Mexico, knows what is implied. Ms. ray ban pas cher Longmire concludes, and I think correctly, that the War on Drugs is one we cannot win. The best we can hope for is to manage it and keep it from getting too out of hand. Ms.

Longmire also indicates that the Drug War has already crossed the border as the cartels–who as I pointed in my articles about Charles Bowden and his books–are moving north, better armed, with better technology, and more money than our own government. The drugs continue to move through our ports of entry because of bribery of officials–both in law enforcement, businesses, and politicians. cheap albion gold This war is no longer a question of resources. Roshe Run Homme Pas Cher It’s a question of will, of ethics, of how our next generations will deal with the issues and where we will go as a nation. Longmire attempts to be politely optimistic about Mexico, but from what I see in the evidence she presents, in my opinion, Mexico is a basket case economically, morally, and politically. Without the billions of dollars pouring in from the drug trade, Mexico would collapse. Andre Ethier Jersey cheap albion silver She correctly points out that legalization of drugs is not the only solution to the problem of the drug cartels, as the drug lords will continue with the kidnappings, extortion, and murder that has created a nightmare and made so many flee Mexico. Longmire’s book has twelve well-written chapters. She makes very practical suggestions as to how Mexico can be taken back from the narcos. I think she’s accurate in her suggestions, but I’m pessimistic about whether they can be implemented. It may require a major border crisis–a violent spillover of blood, or changes in the politics of Mexican/American relations–before things radically change. buy albion gold I do think she may be overly optimistic about Mexico’s ability and will to deal with their crisis For now, the North above Mexico is safer, but human nature being what it is, that could change. albion silver As one who travels to the Rio Grande Valley frequently for my storytelling and music, I think about this often. If you’re one who cares about the drug war, or are concerned about the border, you need to read this book as painful as it might be in some passages.

As for me, I felt the truth of what she wrote immediately. albion gold Her writing indicates she put much thought and research into this well-endorsed book. buy albion silver You can connect to her blog and read more about Ms. Fjallraven Kanken Kinderen cheap albion gold Longmire here, and you can order her book here: Ms. Longmire has done what our media has not done–analyzed, prepared a thoughtful overview and revealed a worsening situation along our own border. How this war will change our border and our nation is the focal question that remains to be answered MLA Entry: Longmire, Sylvia. buy albion gold Cartel: The Coming Invasion of Mexico’s Drug Wars.