The Dark Towers Revisited

Greetings Readers News from the Dark Tower.

I would like to say "Wonderful" but the Dark Tower is anything but wonderful, in a manner of speaking...

Somehow I came across a news note that there was a new book in the Dark Tower Series, which ended years ago.

Readers - I may write something about the Dark Tower and if you have not finished the series of books then you may want to stop reading.

With the death of Eddie and Oy's demise in the final book and not to mention the ending for Susannah and Jake that was a hard ending to a come to. I first heard of the Dark Tower when I was either in Junior High or High School. And then just years later that part of my life came to an end. Granted, there have been short stories published in the Dark Tower world but not really involving Roland and his Ka-tet. Anyway, as for Stephen King and the way he feels about the Dark Tower - the Dark Tower is alive and has been part of my life all this time.

I do not think I have told you this Readers, but when Stephen was hit by that van - do you know what I thought? First of all, I was not concerned for Stephen at that moment. My biggest thought when I first heard that news was the what the fuck was going to happen about the Dark tower?! We will never know the ending? Er... I will never know is what I was thinking. How selfish, but that was what I was worried about when I first heard the news. With that said that is why I can say that the Dark Tower has been part of my life all this time. I hated Gasher(man), what about the Tick Tock Man, and Blaine. Worst yet, Odetta. I loved when Roland danced on the stage while that song was being sung - The Rice Song. Oh, there are so many moments and passages I could recollect.

Anyway, getting back to the topic.

The Wind Through the Keyhole According to Stephen King's website - the book is written and should be published in 2012. Apparently, picks up after Wizard's & Glass and before Wolves of the Calla. You Readers can go to his website to read the short message regarding this book.

First of all, I am pleased to read that the book is written (completed). And two, I want to go back and read more about Mid-World.

It will be, in the words of my-ex-coworker "Just so awesome." But, truth be told any visits to Roland's world is never a happy ending. Just like one of my favorite movie's title - The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The book is good, there will be badness (for you can always count on that Readers with anything dealing with Roland) and the ugly will be what is left in the end.

Yet, I do enjoy.

As I stated in the beginning of the post - it is anything, but "Wonderful"... Let me be honest - It is "Fucking Wonderful!"

Note: Readers, the only book I was disappointed with was the Song of Susannah in the Dark Tower series. Perhaps, I will elaborate on that in the future, perhaps.

until the next time

Daryl Charley

The Fallen Athlete

I'm Back from Vacation

Greetings Readers

I found the blog picture posted today from using Earth Google. Pretty amazing to see our main portion of our Ranch from space in New Mexico. I had never used Earth Google before and was sort of curious to use. This picture was not as close as I could zoom in, but I wanted shot that showed the front gate and the road leading up to the Ranch. Of course you can not see the condition of the dirt road, the steepness or terrain, but it was neat to see the road actually laid out and how much the road curves to the Ranch.

One would expect that the road would be straight, but it is so far from not being straight. Again, that is due to the terrain (geography) Speaking of the road, a.k.a. driveway, I actually worked on the road on my vacation. Meaning, I had the shovel, wheel barrel and pick axe working on portions of the road. Mostly, filling in holes, divots, trenches cause by rain run-off.

And it was not an easy process as it seems. Due to terrain and different soil types in our area I had to make sure I was fixing the road with the "right" type of dirt and not sand or a sand consistency soil. Otherwise, that sand would wash away in the next rain shower. With that in mind, I got soil from one area and wheelbarrowed that all over the road that needed the dirt.

"Thunder" and "Python" got a work out. Oops Readers, I have talked about "Thunder" and "Python" perhaps once or twice this year, but not often. "Thunder" and "Python" are the names of my "huge" biceps! These were named after a friend and I were joking about how I was getting bigger biceps when I was working out at the CAC and she had said jokingly "yeah Thunder and Python look good." After that this is an on going thang and I do refer to my biceps as "Thunder" and "Python", though I do not know which bicep is named "Thunder" and which is named "Python"

Getting back to the dirt. Yep, I had to wheelbarrow out dirt from one specific area and then more often than not I had to wheelbarrowing that dirt to the area of the road that needed the dirt.

"Wheelbarrowing?" Is that a word? That sounds funny. For example, can I say that "I was wheelbarrowing dirt from one side of the road to the other." or should I say "I moved dirt from one side of the road to the other using the wheelbarrow." or "I used the wheelbarrow to haul dirt from one side of the road to the other."

See? Now, I am confused. Fuck it. It's my blog and I am not that too analytical about "Wheelbarrowing." Let me get back to the story

So, I got to shovel, wheelbarrow, and dump dirt over a few portions of our road that needed the work to be done. Otherwise, we have to drive real slow or we could go airborne in our vehicles from the holes and bumps in the road when driving over them.

This was a job that I planned to do, since I really, and I mean really, did not want to haul shit from the corrals and fence line our ranch to the area where we do haul shit. Oh yes, that is other common duty I get to do when on vacation in New Mexico. Some times I like to do that job, but this time around I did not want to. No reason - I just did not want to.

So, I got windbreaker, my new work gloves that my brother gave to me on my arrival in New Mexico. Readers, I think this was planned by my parents and brother for having work gloves so I had no excuse saying that I did not have work gloves hence I could not do work. Sneaky. The joke's on me. Yet, I did and smile and it was pretty well thought out plan to give me work gloves upon arrival in New Mexico. Dang, I just did not put two and two together at that time. And then I grabbed my Ipod and that was my road fixing gear.

For two days I worked on the road and I have to say that I am quite proud of myself? Oh yes, Readers I am tooting my horn once more! The road looks great and was smoother in portions I fixed. Oh yeah. I just did not take a before and after picture. A camera was not part of road fixing gear and it never occurred to do a before and after picture.

Though thinking that would have been, just as my ex-co-worker would say "Just so awesome!"

Anyway, as the title of the blog reads - I am back from a little vacation. With Thanksgiving in last week of November and month end close the week before I was able to leave for an extended amount of time this Thanksgiving. Barring any bad weather that would keep me from travelling.

I will try to catch up on some things that may be of interest soon. Tumble weed burning, Pinons, cooking and the new Stephen King book.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

Johnny Cash

Greetings Readers

As the post title suggests it is about Johnny Cash.

For all my life on this blue planet I have had heard of Johnny Cash - You probably have heard him at one point or another yourself.

"Burn, burn, burn" from the Ring of Fire. A Boy named Sue. The Wanderer (with Bono). and so forth. I have heard of the popular songs from Johnny Cash, but I guess I never really listened to Johnny Cash. And I mean never really, really listened. I liked his deep voice and the tempo, but I guess I never thought any more than that.

So, years ago you readers probably remember the movie "Walk the Line." I heard that was movie was based on his life and that Joaquin Phoenix was going to play Johnny Cash, but then I heard that Reese Witherspoon was going to play June Carter. Knowing Reese from previous movie roles I did not think that was going to be a choice actress to play in a movie about Johnny Cash.

As the movie got near the release date I saw the movie trailers about the movie and I was in awe of how close Joaquin Phoenix looked to Johnny Cash. I also had heard that Reese and Joaquin did truly sing some, if not all, songs in the movie. That was sort of a selling point for me.

Then, the weekend of release. I decided to set the movie on a Sunday. As soon we movie watchers got through the ads, movie trailers and what now then the movie started.

The movie opened with a crow, I think, and then you recognized the scene of a prison. The movie's colors were very, very neutral. The opening showed many shots of the prison, which at that time I did not know it was Folsom Prison. Then, whether it was a minute later or seconds, you could hear the faint beat of music. Gradually, the music's volume increased and I could hear the thump, thump, thump, with a quick two-step beat. Soon the music was all you could hear then if I remember correctly the scene changes to a glass of water with the sound waves from the amp, I think, making waves in the glass. "Mr Cash?" "Mr. Cash?"

In that opening scene I wanted to be at that concert. I wanted to hear what Johnny Cash was going to play. I wanted to hear what recorded at Folsom Prison that day in January.

Overall, the movie was fantastic and I do not say that very often. The story of Johnny Cash was something else. The music that was scored throughout the movie was perfect. And then when the end of the movie came and the short notes telling us readers when Johnny died and then June followed four months later was sad to see. Then, I saw that the album "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison" was, or is, the number one live album of all time. If that a true fact then obviously it was an album that I wanted to hear for myself. The movie's music was never brought to center to be forced into our face just to have the music for us. And was I ever wrong about Reese playing June Carter Cash - she was dead on and I knew that she was going to get nominated for an Oscar for her role.

My parents listened to Johnny Cash when I was growing up, but I guess I never really caught onto Johnny Cash. Or perhaps I did and that is why all of a sudden I have latched onto Johnny Cash. Stephen King even wrote reference to Johnny Cash in the Dark Tower Series. Sure it was a funny reference, but now thinking about that reference - true as shit that King's character was dead on.

So, after seeing "Walk the Line" I wanted to buy the album, but I somehow never got around to buying the CD. Now, this past week I ordered two Johnny Cash Albums from Amazon.com. The Great Lost Performances and Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison. One word. Wow! Fucking impressive music and singing. Not to mention the lyrics. I think I read in the liner notes that the beat is a two step - chicka-boom-chicka-boom. That kind of beat. I love that deep baritone voice of Johnny Cash.

Anyway, I wanted to share this insight of Johnny Cash. Unfortunately, it took me this far in my life to own my first Johnny Cash Album. I bought the DVD extended version of "Walk the Line" that included 17 more minutes of movie footage. The extended version was perfect. I did not feel the extra 17 minutes though the movie is already a long movie at 135 minutes. And the picture that on the front of the extended verison of Walk the Line DVD is what the movie is truly about..

Now, each time I listen to any of Johnny Cash's music I can not help to think what he went through in life and he did live life. He was on top of the world at one moment and the next he was spiralling down to him almost dying from drugs. What June did for Johnny was something extraordinary in itself. How many of us would be there for someone who has dropped that low in his/her life? I get a lump in my throat - honest - about how June supposedly was the instrument to get Johnny away from his spiral into oblivion.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete

April Fool's Day

Greetings Readers

I am back from my mini-vacation at the Ranch. I decided to go and see my parents, especially since it was my Dad'd birthday this past weekend

I have had a pretty short and long vacation, but I think I needed the time to rest and away from the world in general

I left Thursday's night and arrive in Albuquerque, New Mexico about 4 AM on Friday. It was a nice 47 degrees. Readers - compared to Denver's 20 to 30 degrees in the morning I loved the 47 degrees. Balmy! hah hah

I met my father and brother. Mother was at the Ranch since we had a new calf the previous day so someone had to stay at the ranch to mind the new calf and the mother.

We did not stay in Albuquerque very long on Friday. Just to pick up some groceries, stuff at Wal-mart, and breakfast. We made a stop at a liquor store to pick up some local beer called - Tractor. We picked up a Pale Ale, Stout and Red Ale all by Tractor made in Los Lunas, NM.

We then left Albuquerque and headed to the ranch. I saw the movie set that my parents had told me about on the phone. I have a few pictures and I will post for you. On Monday they started tearing down the set so it seems that principle shooting at that location is complete. So, in a movie in the coming future that shows "Love Ranch" I can tell you where it was shot in New Mexico and also that I was about 40 yards away from the Set's entrance.

Finally, we got home. "Home" for me is also the Ranch. I took a quick look around and then I took a nap. I was tired since I really did not sleep since Thursday's night. I got up in time for Dinner and to watch WWE Smackdown (poor reception).

Next thing you know I was going to sleep at 9:30 PM. That is totally unheard of (in my world), but of course when at the Ranch - time does not exist so to speak.

Saturday - Mom cooked a nice breakfast. After that me and my dad had to gather the new mom and calf for transport to the vet. Later, we found out that we did not have to go to the vet - the issue remedied itself.

After that they decided to check on the cattle on the winter plot and I stayed behind since I was tired from travelling.

I toured the Ranch. It was so quiet and sort of empty without the chickens around anymore. Readers - please see previous post on the "Massacre" regarding the chickens and ginneys incident.

Today picture (first picture posted) is the last of the Ginneys & Chicken we had - we now only have four Ginneys. I also saw one of the two culprits shot (pictured) and our warnings to others culprits should they come near our Ranch.

I also read my new Stephen King book - Duma Key outside and inside the house. The day was in the 70 degrees region and boy oh boy it was nice. I had the three dogs come investigate me on what I was doing then one of the cats actually came out (from napping) and laid against my back in the shadow from the sun. Sort of makes me want to make cats an exception.

My parents finally came back and then that was when I started to cook Bratsworth and started to make salad and salsa. Everything came out good.

Though, I saw a bag of tortilla chips in cabinet and grabbed it to taste test my salsa. I grabbed a chip, dipped and ate. A hard crunch. I look at my mother and asked

"How old are these chips?"

"Those are the same chips you bought when you were here the last time." she said non-chalantly.

"Your kidding right?"

"Nope. Matter of fact the other chips in the cabinet are the same chips so you might as well throw those away too."

I shook my head, but oh well.

Sunday - Parents went to church and I stayed home. I cleaned up, read some more, then got lunch started about 12:30 PM, which consisted of Rice (Uncle Ben's), salad and Steak (Rib Eye this time) and some ribs (all grilled of course). Pretty darn good lunch.

More of this and that. Moved some irrigating pipes and then my favorite - shovelling shit. Horseshit and cow shit. This time around pretty dry droppings, but tons of it. My Mother and Father raked and shovel and I did the wheelbarrowing. I had to wheelbarrow about 50 yards out and then 50 yards back from a nearby arroyo that we are filling up with the leftover shit. By the way, I did not mention that the wind was blowing 20 to 30 miles an hour and boy oh boy that added that extra element of raking, shoveling and wheelbarrowing shit so much the better.

I did not get to ride at all at the Ranch. I did not even get to see my baby, Motobecane.

Monday - get up eat, very windy outside so we could not really do anything else outside. I did cook the rest of the ribs, mmmmm.

By the afternoon I had to go home - to Denver. I also had to go home to emails, phones, computers, city, noise, smog, starless skies, and conveniences I take for granted.

Tuesday morning 6:24 AM I was back in Denver and the COLD. Oh so cold, compared to New Mexico the past four days.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete.

Another Crisp, Cold Morning

Greetings Readers

I have to say that this morning was a repeat of what yesterday was except that this time I did not have any pinto beans cooking. And hot. Nope, the beans were as cold as the air outside. I guess I could care less, but I did want to make the effort to cook something to eat.

So, about 8:30 AM I finally got the urge to get dress and brave the cold to get the Sunday Morning paper. Yes, that ritual of mine that begins almost every Sunday Morning. The blinds and drapes were closed so I did not have a clue what the weather was outside. I know that the weather was suppose to be cold, but other than that I do not have a clue.

Without TV you tend to lose what is happening in the world. Well, it does not become a concern. Technically, I have wiped some of the daily rituals away. No more turning on the TV to watch the morning news. I am not planning what I am going to watch at night or even the whole week.

Without TV reception it has been nice. Though, I am missing some favorite programs that I would like to see. And yes, I am going to have Cable really soon.

I digressed as usual. Outside more snow had fallen through the night and the world was white. I could feel the cold through the drapes and not to mention in my humble abode.

The roads did not look that bad so I decided to use the road bike once more. Well, I should have used the Mountain Bike. The roads were okay - doable. However, the sidewalks were packed with snow and not to mention the splash back from the vehicles and snow trucks driving the snow onto the sidewalk from the streets. Since the air is very cold, the snow is powdery and has not had the chance to melt into ice or to have the snow to become hard packed. So, I was able to ride about 90 percent of the way to the newspaper machine, but got "hung up" on a small hill and then spun out my rear wheel. That was that. I had to walk the bike to the next intersection before I could even try to mount the bike once more. There was no way that I was going to be able to start riding on the hill, going up.

I made it to the newspaper machine got my paper and well the ride was easier going home since I was going down hill, but still had to balance my bike going down the hill.

And that was that.

The temperature has not changed much from the morning. Currently 24 degrees at 3:51 PM. The snow has stopped falling, the sun is out shining and the sun's rays feel good against my black biking attire-warming my skin. The sun has melted some of the snow, but the cars have done most of the melting. I am not sure how tomorrow morning is going to be for me.

I got the third Ipod working and have been loading the ipod up from Tiesto's Club Life Podcast's pod casts. By the way, the Ipod color is White and a black & white screen (which suits me fine since I do not load video onto any of my Ipods.)

I guess I better tell you readers that I had to purchase the current issue of P***boy this past week (sorry readers, I have to type this way so in case someone has a filter on they will not be stopped by that word). Stephen King has written a short story - "Mute" and the only I could read this story - legally - was to buy the magazine. In addition, I was hoping for a woman that I wanted to see naked, but it was a woman Kim Kardashin (however you spell the last name) that I have no clue who she is. I know that in the past few months E! has a new show about the Kardasian's, but I have no interest in it. Of course I saw her layout! She was just okay - kind of young, big breasted and completely shaved. Most of the time when I see a completely shaved woman I am totally turned on, but this time it was just alright. Granted, this was not a personal viewing, but you would think that I might get somewhat excited. Nothing. Oh, the rest of the pictures were okay, but some were just "fuzzy" appearing, even though professionally shot. I can not tell you readers why the picture spread did not look right to me.

I have no real preference of how it looks down there, in case any of you readers want to know. But I like just a bit of hair down there, but all in all it really does not matter to me. Little triangle, little strip, closely shaved very nice. A bush is good, and completely shaved also nice. I do not descriminate - at least I hope not. If there is sex involved - believe me the way it may look downstairs, hair/no hair, is not going to make me change my mind - At All!

You see readers, I have once more digressed from the topic at hand. Stephen King's short story was good. I did like the short story and yet you still do not know all the answers in the story. I did like the story telling and the way the story within was told. Not horror, but just a typical non-horror Stephen King story.

Alright readers, I have taken more of your time that perhaps that you wanted to spend reading my blog, but I hope that I have entertained once more.

Until the next time

Daryl Charley
The Fallen Athlete