tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57851748025965537772024-03-05T21:32:16.110-08:00Barnhill HG3 5DHBruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.comBlogger284125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-53272143265716289572024-02-24T13:32:00.000-08:002024-02-24T13:32:26.773-08:00Reminiscing -- February 24, 2024<p> I'll let this go "public" for a week or so, in case Pat is surfing / searching.</p><p>I'm currently reading:</p><p><i>The Anglo-Saxon: A History of the Beginnings of England, 400 - 1066</i>, Marc Morris, c. 2021.</p><p> Much of the early part of the book "comes from" the Venerable Bede.</p><p>Pat and I had a connection with St Bede.</p><p>This book is just one more in a long list of many that I would have loved to share with Pat..</p><p>Looking back, I wish we had spent many weekends with a Saturday overnight in places to explore, with a great Saturday night dinner and wine. So many memories. <br /></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-6580349635068144812023-09-27T06:33:00.002-07:002023-09-27T06:33:31.661-07:00MHS -- September 27, 2023<p>From another blog:</p><p><b></b></p><blockquote><p><b>Flashback: Menwith Hill Station</b></p><p>A huge part of my life back in 2004 or thereabouts.</p><p><a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/09/06/nsa-menwith-hill-targeted-killing-surveillance/">Link here</a>.</p><p>I
did not know this site (the blog) existed. I happened to run across it
when I did a "person's name" search. The individual for whom I was
searching is completely off the grid and has been for as long as I've
known him / her. There should be no way that individual could have
gotten me to the linked site, but there you have it. </p><p>I had pretty much "forgotten" about MHS until I read Kim Wicken's book on Lexington, the racehorse.<br /></p><p><a href="https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2022/07/24/horse-legacy-lexington/">Also, <i>Horse</i></a>.</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Wow, I still have such great memories of MHS, Yorkshire, Pat. </p><p>The walks were incredible. I really don't to what I can compare Yorkshire with regard to walking.</p><p>I would do almost anything to return, but I won't give up Sophia.</p><p>Maybe when I'm ninety years old. <br /></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-3340577607488664792023-09-25T06:13:00.002-07:002023-09-25T06:13:20.912-07:00Darley Arabian<p> </p><p>A personal note before I begin the blog on "Darley Arabian."</p><p>I
was in the USAF for thirty years and one day. Almost exactly half of
that time was spent overseas. Six years were spent in England. </p><p>I
spent a lot of time at RAF Menwith Hill Station in northern England,
Yorkshire County. I was sent there many, many times on temporary duty
for weeks at a time. I usually stayed at the Wellington Inn in the
village of Darley just a mile or so down the hill from Menwith Hill. I
generally did not have a rental car and either walked or hitchhiked
between the base and the inn. When hitchhiking I was often picked up by
the same woman (long story) who lived in Pateley Bridge, a bit further
away from the air base. She recognized me from the base and always
stopped to give me a ride. Sometimes I preferred to walk. Such an
incredible walk.</p><p>So, I spent a lot of time in Darley, York, UK. </p><p>At the time I did not know about "Darley Arabian," but now I do and I feel very, very good about connecting all the dots.</p><p>See maps below. <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>*******************************<br />Darley Arabian</b><br /></p><p>This blog got its start with this book, a birthday gift from my middle granddaughter:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Lexington: The Extraordinary Life And Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse</i>, Kim Wickens, c. 2023 </li></ul><p>The
"original" breed was the "Darley" breed. It was bred with a horse
Thomas Darley bought in Aleppo in 1700; that line became known as the
Darley Arabian line. Source: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5om2z4/does_anyone_have_any_information_about_sir_edmund/">reddit</a>.</p><p><b>From <i>Your Darley Ancestors</i></b>, Lon J Darley, 1979. Source: <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/5om2z4/does_anyone_have_any_information_about_sir_edmund/">reddit</a>.</p><p></p><blockquote>Edmund
Darley was born in Erle, Normandy, France, in 1034. Edmund assisted
William the Conqueror (Duke of Normandy) in the Battle of Hastings,
1066, and for that support, Darley was granted a large amount of land
and money when William the Conqueror was crowned, King William I. Darley
was knighted as Sir Edmund Darley by King William I. <br /></blockquote><blockquote>The support that Darley gave the French as the Battle of Hastings was the use of the Darley horses.</blockquote><p></p><p><b>Print</b>: The Duke of Devonshire's Flying Childrers, sired by The Darley Arabian, the print dated 1742. Source: <a href="https://www.fineartprintsondemand.com/artists/seymour/flying_childers_1742.htm">fineprintsondemand</a>. </p><p><b>The Darley Arabian</b>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darley_Arabian">full entry, wiki</a>.</p><blockquote>The <b>Darley Arabian</b>
(foaled c. 1700) was one of three dominant foundation sires of modern
Thoroughbred horse racing bloodstock. The other two founders were the <b>Godolphin Arabian</b> and the <b>Byerley Turk</b>. <br /></blockquote><blockquote>This
bay Arabian horse was bought in Aleppo, Syria, by Thomas Darley in 1704
and shipped to Aldby Park in England, as a present for his brother.
[Another source states that Thomas bought the horse for his father
Henry, who died two years after the gift was presented.]<br /><br />
One author in 1840 described Darley Arabian's arrival in England during
the reign of Queen Anne as the event which "forms the great epoch from
which the history of the Turf [as in "turf racing"] should be dated."<br /><br />
There he stood at stud, usually private but sometimes open to outside
mares. He was the leading sire in Great Britain and Ireland in 1722. By
all accounts, the Darley Arabian stood about 15 hands high and was of
substantial beauty and refinement.</blockquote><p>Source: <a href="https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/NRY/Bossall/ButtercrambeArabian">at genuki.org.uk</a>: </p><p></p><blockquote>In 1702 Thomas Darley; born Aldby Park 1664; while serving as Her
Majesty's Consul to the Levant (Syria) during the reign of Queen Anne (1702 - 1707);
bought a Arabian horse from Sheik Mirza for his father, Richard Darley. <br /></blockquote><blockquote>The
Arabian "said race" from which the the Darley Arabian descended:
"Mannicka." [Some years later, Darley Arabian sired a "Manica."]<br /></blockquote><blockquote>The horse whose original name was "Ras el Fedowi," translated as "The
Headstrong One", became immortalised as the Darley Arabian. <br /></blockquote><blockquote>In Thomas
Darley's own words, <i> "he was immediately striking owing to his handsome appearance and exceedingly elegant carriage". </i>
Although he never raced, he covered mares at Aldby Park from 1705 until
1719, and lived until the advanced age of 30. His genes added speed to
those of stronger English horses of the time. Through his offspring,
including his great grandson, <b>the famous and never beaten Eclipse</b>, he
has had the greater influence of the three foundation stallions of the
Thoroughbred breed. <br /></blockquote><blockquote><b>His bloodline is said to be present in 80 or 90% of
today's racehorses</b>. </blockquote><p></p><p>Source: more from wiki:<br /></p><p></p><p></p><blockquote>The
Darley Arabian sired the undefeated Flying Childers. He also sired
Bartlett's Childers, an unraced brother of Flying Childers, who was the
great-grandsire of the extremely influential Eclipse. The Darley Arabian
was to become the most important sire in the history of the English
Thoroughbred. His son Bulle Rock was the first Thoroughbred to be
exported to America, in 1730.<br /><br />
Most Thoroughbreds can be traced back to Darley Arabian. In 95% of
modern Thoroughbred racehorses, the Y chromosome can be traced back to
this single stallion. This is mainly through his descendant, Eclipse,
who is the direct male ancestor of 95% of all thoroughbreds and in the
pedigree of many of the rest.</blockquote><p></p><p><b>Yorkshire</b>: we know for a fact that<b> </b>the Darleys were from Yorkshire. Their current home is Bu<b>ttercrambe </b>[see link below]<b>, just east of York and one hour by car from Darley (Darley to the west. Darley to Harrogate to York to Buttercrambe.) </b><br /></p><p><b>Place names</b>:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Darley: there is only one Darley in the UK; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darley,_North_Yorkshire">Darley, North Yorkshire</a>.</li><ul><li><a href="http://www.darleyvillage.info/News_and_Roadworks_13870.aspx">Darley in Nidderdale</a>.</li></ul><li>Buttercrambe: likewise, there is only one Buuttercrambe in the UK; <a href="https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/NRY/Bossall/ButtercrambeArabian">link here</a>, by Peter Darley. </li><li>Aldby Park: where Thomas Darley was born (1664); a manor to the northwest of Buttercrambe;</li><li><a href="https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/NRY/Bossall">The Ancient Parish of Bossall</a>: eight named places including Buttercrambe and Aldby Park</li><ul><li>nine miles northeast of York</li><li>once a considerable village, now not much more than three abodes</li></ul></ul><p><b>Other links</b>:</p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Darley Arabian bloodlines</b>: <a href="https://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Bios/DarleyArabian.htm">link here</a>. Best site for notable offspring (?).</li><li><a href="https://www.darleyamerica.com/about-us/introduction">Darley</a>. Website. </li><li><a href="https://www.tbheritage.com/Portraits/DarleyArabian.html">Bloodlines</a>.</li><li><a href="http://numberonelondon.net/2017/07/the-founding-fathers-of-english-racing-the-darley-arabian/">numberoneLondon</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.michaelchurchracingbooks.com/the-darley-arabian/">descendants</a>.</li></ul><p><b>Maps</b>:</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShcwL4jFgpSBePkCgYkkyUs88lnwBYQckzF7nbq4TKID0QqZbXjfPRzvBAyJ6zJhzO75ZbCZie8emTQ0tWXKAvQaU1ZBQZcdgQ80IblJ0EDJ7R88lFNS0EuCueaJT2di7dAvS8XJQhk3PKp4jrXMDDZeOkUswIB0kEmVXREL4DcjMa5kpSL4VIObaepwa/s2458/00_1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1376" data-original-width="2458" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjShcwL4jFgpSBePkCgYkkyUs88lnwBYQckzF7nbq4TKID0QqZbXjfPRzvBAyJ6zJhzO75ZbCZie8emTQ0tWXKAvQaU1ZBQZcdgQ80IblJ0EDJ7R88lFNS0EuCueaJT2di7dAvS8XJQhk3PKp4jrXMDDZeOkUswIB0kEmVXREL4DcjMa5kpSL4VIObaepwa/w640-h358/00_1.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQnw004PBTaGLdMGK8BAiQrovJP7o-ZG6Z7vJ5kEY8oG7yLoxUQiFhrEAi2cctMPNHFJj6N7kv3qvGElgTw2bY2dR9RCIs4iUv0S4qxCkT5j5cSRso-I5i1FpMLw71YJIJdh3VzSMwtl8ctwf48-QvH8cRkFSzjEFtps3RNJzE09bsu1g0znKxLsRsEFI/s1736/00_2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="1736" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQnw004PBTaGLdMGK8BAiQrovJP7o-ZG6Z7vJ5kEY8oG7yLoxUQiFhrEAi2cctMPNHFJj6N7kv3qvGElgTw2bY2dR9RCIs4iUv0S4qxCkT5j5cSRso-I5i1FpMLw71YJIJdh3VzSMwtl8ctwf48-QvH8cRkFSzjEFtps3RNJzE09bsu1g0znKxLsRsEFI/w640-h482/00_2.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RukST0El1M9rnFrWaTzQHzGKezsBWNfdOLLwTN3WGmgOd9l_ZQLWSBk_2ZxJFM8wkPsU90NLsamTNRXolnwPE_liOdpeTapvM_ju3TAKKCvyBIHYUsu6CJXJLqlFcoCP8uQgZ4yKrxBdhNCAGu9pHGyw4iehPoY_3P21F1J9PiMvbnd862Z2l1KDQGjm/s2412/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-25%20at%207.39.22%20AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1348" data-original-width="2412" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RukST0El1M9rnFrWaTzQHzGKezsBWNfdOLLwTN3WGmgOd9l_ZQLWSBk_2ZxJFM8wkPsU90NLsamTNRXolnwPE_liOdpeTapvM_ju3TAKKCvyBIHYUsu6CJXJLqlFcoCP8uQgZ4yKrxBdhNCAGu9pHGyw4iehPoY_3P21F1J9PiMvbnd862Z2l1KDQGjm/w640-h358/Screen%20Shot%202023-09-25%20at%207.39.22%20AM.png" width="640" /></a></div><b><br />Darley homepage</b>, link above:<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrmpD3wrxm3UdMybd1MN3wKGtABE_5_6HITp1X9Pd7RnkWB9DDMhFOp8NvAV8QBKAkvafKaljnCKaF30n6Zcz45vjikf2kBPaMzXXyDk6e0CGPrIWMt1vSC0AMKTLKPg1mwZ2rtg97QO_s9x0o-ErHyO71lMgxrysTu6ltSJEH0kQVXnV5h-PzOUMh42Z/s1676/00_1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1264" data-original-width="1676" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrmpD3wrxm3UdMybd1MN3wKGtABE_5_6HITp1X9Pd7RnkWB9DDMhFOp8NvAV8QBKAkvafKaljnCKaF30n6Zcz45vjikf2kBPaMzXXyDk6e0CGPrIWMt1vSC0AMKTLKPg1mwZ2rtg97QO_s9x0o-ErHyO71lMgxrysTu6ltSJEH0kQVXnV5h-PzOUMh42Z/w640-h482/00_1.png" width="640" /></a></div>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-2591446257142970782023-09-23T19:23:00.005-07:002023-09-24T20:47:25.592-07:00The Female Figure — September 23, 2023<p>The female nude is incredible.</p><p>Genitalia: three “divisions.”</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>first division: <i>mons veneris</i>, best unshaven, but trimmed / manicured</li><li>second division: vulva; when “open”:</li><ul><li>clitoris</li><li>urethral meatus</li><li>vaginal opening</li></ul><li>third division: from the taint to the anus</li><ul><li>from anterior vs from below vs from behind, the latter with woman bent over</li></ul></ul><div>Turn-offs:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>long, cosmetic nails;</li><li>tattoos, with the Riley Reid exception;</li><li>fake eyelashes;</li><li>regional accents.</li></ul></div><p></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-5911844349514301902023-07-09T20:54:00.007-07:002023-08-09T19:43:10.123-07:00Going Private Again — August 9, 2023<p>I miss you so much. Love.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlVpVIeY74U">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlVpVIeY74U</a>.</p><p>Going private again in a couple of days.</p><p>Wow, I miss you tonight.</p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-33475564692392946092023-06-30T20:59:00.001-07:002023-06-30T20:59:06.320-07:00Very, Very Melancholy Tonight — June 30, 2023Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-73470718440854318092023-06-30T11:30:00.001-07:002023-06-30T20:51:32.089-07:00The Lewis Carroll Connection -- June 30, 2023 — The Blog Will Be Public For One Week<p>My goal this summer is to be in the library five days each week this summer. One can track the books that have caught my eye <a href="https://milliondollarliterature.blogspot.com/">at this blog</a>.</p><p>Today, while reading a biography of Lewis Carroll, I come to discover that in 1843, at the age of 11, his family to include 10 siblings, moved too Croft-on-Tees, north Yorkshire.</p><p>In fact, Croft-on-Tees is a one-hour drive north of Pateley Bridge. Our trips were mostly south and east of Pateley Bridge and so we missed that connection. Kind of sad in a way, but it would have laid another brick in our foundation which, as you noted, would have been troublesome at some point. </p><p>However, after his father gained a well-deserved promotion to Rector at that location, he was made residentiary canon of the ancient cathedral at Ripon, Yorkshire, and after that, he and his family spent time in Ripon as well as Croft. </p><p>Wow, we visited Ripon almost every weekend, on our way to somewhere else or to visit Ripon itself.<br /></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-34637935239724832542023-05-04T20:06:00.002-07:002023-09-24T20:49:12.436-07:00Our Town -- Iris Dement -- May 4, 2023<p>Hi, Pat,</p><p>I'm doing great. Healthy as can be. You have a birthday coming up in June. No, I don't forget. We never celebrated; but I never forget. Maybe we did celebrate; I forget.<br /></p><p>But not a day goes by that I'm not thinking of you.</p><p>Tonight listening to YouTube music and when I came across this one (for the millionth time), my thoughts went to you. </p><p>If I didn't have one last granddaughter to care for, I would call it a life, and die peacefully. This is really incredibly good writing. Amazing.<br /></p><center></center><center></center><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FikZwgj89HI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center><p>You are as beautiful as Emmy Lou Harris. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FikZwgj89HI&list=RDEMPXOW7Sbeyz4I1NTd6HAbxg&start_radio=1&rv=hQOF35LskM8">Link here</a>.</p><p>Hold on to your lover. <br /></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-8547864336169723452023-05-01T21:24:00.001-07:002023-05-01T21:27:28.561-07:00Not A Day Goes By — May 1, 2023<p>It’s been a long time since I’ve posted something. Only because nothing else to say.</p><p>I’ll always wonder if you found this site.</p><p>Not a day goes by …</p><p>I feel I haven’t changed since the day I left you. I’m sure you haven’t changed either.</p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-69469766171299918052022-11-18T20:41:00.002-08:002022-11-18T20:41:16.969-08:00Scotch Eggs And Whitby, Yorkshire, England -- For The Archives -- November 18, 2022<p> </p><p>Of the thirty years and one day in the USAF, perhaps the most
memorable was the time I spent in Yorkshire, England, between 2002 and
2004. </p><p>But in all that time, I never came across Scotch eggs, and
now, two days ago, I had my first Scotch eggs, in north Texas of all
places. Wow. </p><p><b>From wiki</b>: <br /></p><p></p><blockquote>Other
claims include the name coming from a nickname used by Londoners who
lived around Wellington Barracks after Officers of the Scots Guards
stationed there, and who developed a taste for the snack. <br /></blockquote><blockquote>According to <i>Culinary Delights of Yorkshire</i>,
they originated in Whitby, Yorkshire, England, in the 19th century, and
were originally covered in fish paste rather than sausage meat. </blockquote><p></p><p><b>Wellington Barracks</b>: </p><p></p><blockquote>Wellington
Barracks is a military barracks in Westminster, central London, for the
Foot Guards battalions on public duties in that area. The building is
located about three hundred yards from Buckingham Palace, allowing the
guard to be able to reach the palace very quickly in an emergency, and
lies between Birdcage Walk and Petty France. Three companies are based
at the barracks, as well as all of the Foot Guards bands and the
regimental headquarters. </blockquote><p></p><p><b>Whitby, Yorkshire, England</b>: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitby">wiki</a>.<b> <br /></b></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>one Saturday, I hiked the English coast from Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby;</li><li>the Whitby Abbey</li><li>St Hilda</li><li>Easter</li><li>Dracula</li><li>jet: I got a "jet" cross for our daughter Laura; priceless; the memories;</li><li>Its
attraction as a tourist destination is enhanced by the proximity of the
high ground of the North York Moors national park and the heritage
coastline and by association with the horror novel Dracula. Jet and alum
were mined locally, and Whitby jet, which was mined by the Romans and
Victorians, became fashionable during the 19th century. </li></ul><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KRWmgRTByPhFWm2hlfyc3T6SYgPji2OfYigkk27twPXhcge6qvzT3XQRVzjWgmgTRyzU8FO0WJrPbdfEx2-15uebAOl1kiY0ePlBNS9gBMZUYO3Fn79yxCi4Vf-G2fp5yfmbp1lfZKjuFmB7NqwNcrt1TiJRLix5-oNN-4pJnREmRxAUDWR2kmc9/s1312/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-18%20at%2010.33.40%20PM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="1312" height="514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3KRWmgRTByPhFWm2hlfyc3T6SYgPji2OfYigkk27twPXhcge6qvzT3XQRVzjWgmgTRyzU8FO0WJrPbdfEx2-15uebAOl1kiY0ePlBNS9gBMZUYO3Fn79yxCi4Vf-G2fp5yfmbp1lfZKjuFmB7NqwNcrt1TiJRLix5-oNN-4pJnREmRxAUDWR2kmc9/w640-h514/Screen%20Shot%202022-11-18%20at%2010.33.40%20PM.png" width="640" /></a></b></div><p></p><p><b>Scotch eggs</b>: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_egg">link here</a>.<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>along with the "right" Scotch, my Saturday brunch</li><li>Thirsty Lion</li><li>eleven of them across the US</li><ul><li>only eleven</li><li>another one soon to come to north Ft Worth </li><ul><li>strictest confidence; don't tell anyone<br /></li></ul></ul><li>one of the eleven "owns" Denver"</li><li>one of the other eleven: one minute -- by foot -- from my house.</li></ul>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-27476544701770338302022-10-01T20:36:00.002-07:002022-10-01T20:36:45.202-07:00Grammar -- October 1, 2022<p> There's a present tense.</p><p>And a past (past perfect) tense.</p><p>And there's an imperfect (past imperfect) tense.</p><p>But no tense for a past event still very much alive in the present tense. </p><p>2002 to 2006 live on in my mind every, every day. </p><p>I can't shake it and it's killing me.</p><p>Tonight is / was perfect walking weather. Wow, wow, wow, how wonderful it was to take day-long, and late-evening, midnight walks with Pat. <br /></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-86196514167561254642022-08-04T17:30:00.002-07:002022-08-04T17:30:33.094-07:00Just Want To Be In Your Arms Again -- August 4, 2022<p> Maybe a good night for a martini. Or two.<br /></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-88630233049284082652022-07-30T19:35:00.002-07:002022-07-30T19:35:06.134-07:00Not A Day Goes By That I Don't Think Of You -- July 30, 2022<p>I hope you are doing well. That's all I can write tonight.</p><p>You would be happy to know that I don't feel a day older than 40. LOL. </p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-59557459162142831052022-06-26T06:50:00.002-07:002022-06-26T06:50:19.214-07:00Forever Indebted To You -- June 26, 2022<a href="https://themilliondollarway.blogspot.com/2022/06/a-song-for-hedy-lamarr-not-hedley.html">Link here</a>.Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-34404319684265651602022-06-23T19:45:00.009-07:002022-06-23T19:45:57.982-07:00Wow, I miss you tonight.
<br /><br /><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NSfOB8ANdWU" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center><center><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Right Down The Line</i>, Gerry Rafferty</span></b></center>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-53705461799760572222022-05-22T19:54:00.000-07:002022-05-22T19:54:05.624-07:00Julie Christie in "Far From The Madding Crowd" -- May 22, 2022<p> When I see Julie Christi in <i>Far From the Madding Crowd</i>, I see Pat. <br /></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-16033439309543034952022-05-21T11:12:00.004-07:002022-05-22T19:12:56.287-07:00Poolside At A Luxury Hotel -- May 21, 2022<p>I'm poolside at a luxury hotel, martini, watching Tiger Woods at the PGA Championship on Hulu. Only one thing would make it better: to have Pat poolside with me.</p><p>My significant other will not come to the pool. Won't spend time outside in the cool of the evening. Mosquitoes. Or other bugs. I didn't notice a single bug last night. <br /></p><p>It's 87° -- and with the humidity -- feels like 93°.</p><p>It will cool off the next few days; in fact, it gets very cool tomorrow, and then get very warm again. It will cool off significantly tonight. </p><p>But, back to the pool.</p><p>It always amazes me but the pool is frequently empty. Just now, three attractive 16-year-old women have gotten into the pool. Don't see this often. Not complaining.</p><p>A 30-something woman just showed up. <br /></p><p>Last night I was out at the pool until around 10:00 p.m. A gorgeous evening. If I had all the money in the world, I would finance a 5-star restaurant poolside. Six tables. Free for those with deluxe rooms and reservations required, of course. </p><p>I would also have the largest apartment available overlooking the pool. Some of the units are very, very large with a very long balcony. If we're still here several years from now, I may just do that. <br /></p><p>Impossible to articulate how beautiful the evening was last night. <br /></p><p>Book: <i>The Shores of Bohemia: A Cape Cod Story, 1910 - 1960</i>, John Taylor Williams, c. 2022. Another book my significant other won't read. I don't know if Pat would read it but she would enjoy hearing about it. </p><p>Another young 20-something just arrived. She was here yesterday. Hard to believe they are unaccompanied. <br /></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-37958083893049269792022-05-18T05:49:00.005-07:002022-05-18T05:49:57.043-07:00Happy Birthday -- Posted May 18, 2022<p>Dream last night: we saw each other for one last time.</p><p>Most difficult dream I've had in years. </p><p>Then this morning, coincidentally, a reminder popped up in my e-mail that it's your birthday June 1. <br /></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-8060387439173907232022-04-17T07:21:00.006-07:002022-04-17T09:24:53.331-07:00I Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You -- April 17, 2022<p> Home alone. Easter Sunday.</p><p>Enjoying a wonderful English breakfast. The ones we enjoyed almost every Sunday. </p><p>Great memories.</p><p>And then this song popped up on YouTube rotation.</p><p>And it all came flowing back. </p><p>You said it would take eight years. </p><p>It's been seventeen? </p><p>Do you realize how long seventeen years is? </p><p>It's three years short of a military career. It's one's entire first seventeen years of life. I have less than seventeen years to live, no doubt. It's two years longer than the total number of years I've been retired. It's too damned long. <br /></p><p>Love. </p><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J36z7AnhvOM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-64890209872189411292022-02-09T14:27:00.005-08:002022-03-08T17:34:56.236-08:00Visits To MHS, June, 2002 -- September, 2004<p><b>From my journal</b>;</p><p> Visits to MHS:<br /></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1 Jun 2002 -- 19 Aug 2002</li><li>Oct 2002 -- the visit that changed everything and changed nothing</li><li>Nov 2002</li><li>Mar 2003</li><li>Aug 2003</li><li>Jan 2004 -- was this the last time I saw Pat? If so, on this visit, I saw her for one hour despite being at MHS for one to two weeks. We knew it would be our last visit. It was incredibly painful. </li><li>(Pat’s last day at MHS: May 16, 2004; probably 30 days home leave; first day in Australia ~ 16 Jun or 16 Jul 04)</li><li>Sep 2004: this, too, would have been a painful visit since she was no longer there.<br /></li></ul><p> I need to confirm these dates. I never did confirm those dates but probably quite accurate. </p><p>From 2000 to 2007 May and I lived in San Antonio. I was the Surgeon General for Air Intelligence Agency, headquartered at the large air base on the southwest side of San Antonio. </p><p>"9/11" was September 11, 2000.</p><p>My first visit to Menwith Hill Station was in the summer of 2002. </p><p>I stayed at the Wellington Inn, about a 30-minute walk down the hill from MHS.</p><p>Pat lived in a detached home on an open area, overlooking a most incredibly beautiful valley of the River Nidd. </p><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MZbUYS7Qos4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></center><center><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>I Can't Help If If I'm Still In Love With You</i>, Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris</b></span><br /></center>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-17742122326527118462022-02-07T19:35:00.000-08:002022-02-07T19:35:00.061-08:00Someone Once Told Me ..... February 7, 2022<p> .... it took eight years to get over an unrequited love. </p><p>Not true. Has it been seventeen years? </p><p>Not a day goes by that I don't think of you. And the memories seem stronger than ever. </p><p>Google maps, satellite photos, and street views of Yorkshire bring back bittersweet memories.</p><p>I haven't changed a bit ... except normal aging process and "slow" at that. <br /></p>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-45895956294314245242020-10-28T21:06:00.004-07:002022-02-10T20:58:50.193-08:00Tabla Rasa, Arvo Pärt -- October 28, 2020<p>You were the only one who ever thanked me for doing the dishes and cleaning up after dinner and / or cleaning up after cooking.</p><p>To this day, whenever I wash dishes I think of you. I will never forget you. I will never forget loving you. </p><center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7YqF69HLkj8" width="560"></iframe></center><center><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Tabula Rasa, Arvo Pärt</b></i></span></center><br />You would not know this this was the music I listened to whenever we stopped by the small church after midnight.Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-73919406821559861922020-10-11T22:27:00.002-07:002020-10-11T22:27:26.073-07:00I Can't Shake This Thing From Fifteen Years Ago -- October 12, 2020<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KXQ5RaSX8r4" width="560"></iframe></center><center><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><i>Fifteen Years Ago</i>, John Prine, featuring Lee Ann Womack</b></span></center>Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-30399011149200628002020-06-30T22:59:00.002-07:002020-06-30T22:59:42.588-07:00Not A Day Goes By That I'm Not Thinking Of You -- July 1, 2020Nothing else to say. Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5785174802596553777.post-24747061196202697552019-11-02T14:54:00.005-07:002022-02-10T21:10:34.578-08:00I Never Shared This With You, Pat, But If I Could, I Would -- November 2, 2019<center>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NfGFu_IlYL4" width="560"></iframe></center>
<center>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Oxygen</b></i><b>, Jean Michel Jarre / Hank Marvin</b></span></center>
<br />
I still remember the "carvery" you took me to on our last real day together. You were so incredibly kind.<br />
<br />
My hunch is you would prefer this one:<br />
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VU7TVEscPcc" width="560"></iframe></center>
<center>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Te Deum</b></i><b>, Arvo Pärt</b></span></center>
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The little church, at midnight, in Pateley Bridge.Bruce Oksolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10952652803684625738noreply@blogger.com0