Music & mystical thoughts pass this way

The going & coming of Fram Actual

Fram Actual has returned from Kansas, the land of Dorothy, to Minnesota, the land of ex-wives, without much to say other than the sky is blue.

It gave me an eerie feeling to stand on Kansas soil on Memorial Day morning since I had an ancestor killed there in 1867 by a war party of Sioux and Cheyenne, led by a fellow named Pawnee Killer. My ancestor was in the 2nd Cavalry, out of Fort Sedgewick, with a patrol of 11 troopers and a Sioux scout. Possibly, the twilight zone does exist, but that would be too long a story for this evening. We shall leave it at that for now.

In other late-breaking news, Fram the First presented Freyja with a 24-karat gold Thor's Hammer on Sunday as a token for his proposal of marriage. She accepted it, commenting that any guy who has been following her around for 30,000 years or thereabouts has earned his way into Folkvangr, and to sit by her side in her hall.

I ran across a version of the Guns N' Roses song, "November Rain," that is spectacular as a video, but no longer can be considered unique since nearly 32 million have viewed it.

Perhaps it was the "rain song" combined with speaking a few days ago to a friend about a canoe trip, and later recalling being storm-bound for a day but, in any event, I awoke from a dream last night in which I was crossing an endless lake in a thunderstorm. I could feel the sting of the wind and the spray from the waves on my face. Black and gray clouds passed over me, fleeing from the storm as I went toward it. I was happy in my dream until my sleep was interrupted.

At the time of the actual trip, our group was storm-bound from travel on Lake Superior, but the weather was not so violent as to prevent me from battling out, onto the lake, and surfing the waves back in, shouting into the wind, then running with it. Thunderstorms are heaven-sent for the right person in the right place at the right time. I was happy on my lake until I was exhausted.

Back to the music: "November Rain" -- great song; great band; great voice, great guitarist; great video. I have listened to it/watched it ever so many times since I arrived home Monday evening. It was the last thing I heard before I fell asleep early this morning, and the first sound I initiated a couple of hours later after a ringing telephone had jarred me from sleep. There is enough time for reality tomorrow ....

In case you are in the mood for musical fantasy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siBoLc9vxac&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siBoLc9vxac

Beware the Ides of March & idle thoughts

Did this rune stone mark the final resting place of Fram the First?

This thrilling saga may end in Minnesota ....

Many people know the story of the Kensington Rune Stone. It was found in 1898 by a Swedish farmer, Olof Ohman, near Kensington, Minnesota, and is purported to be the record of a Scandinavian expedition from Vinland westward into the heartland of the American continent.

Here is a version of the generally accepted translation of the runes carved into this stone:

[we are] 8 Goths (Swedes) and 22 Norwegians on a journey of discovery from Vinland to the west we had camp by 2 skerries a day's trip north from this stone we went and fished one day after we came home we found men red with blood and dead. AVM save from evil have men at the sea to look after our ships 14 day's journey from this island year 1362

Here is a version of a newly-completed translation of the runes carved into this stone:

[we are] 8 Goths (Swedes) and 22 Norwegians on a journey of discovery from Vinnie's cabin after trying to sack Rome we had camp by 2 skerries a day's trip north from this stone we had fish fry and beach party one day after we came home we found Fram the First had been left behind with the Skraelings AVM save him from himself have men at the sea to look after our ships 14 day's journey from this island winning lottery number 1362

Now then. There are many who believe this stone to be genuine and many who do not. Needless to say, being directly descended from Fram the First, I have absolutely no doubt as to its authenticity. Just to engage in theory for a moment, perhaps the disappearance of Fram the First is directly related to the accounts of blue-eyed, blonde-haired, Mandan Native Americans. These accounts, of which there are a few, arose from the French fur traders who penetrated the region in the early 18th Century. Mandan "bull boats" and lodges have design similarities to Scandinavian counterparts. Just possibly, Fram the First was the first, and found eventual happiness with a Mandan bride along the banks of the Missouri River.

On a more ominous note, there has been speculation that the Kensingson Rune Stone was more than a simple message left for posterity. It might have been placed to mark the gravesite of Fram the First. Rumors surfacing around Norway a few years after the sack of Sarzana in Italy were that Fram the First met his end shortly before his 28th birthday while trying to lead his merry band of raiders home. The date, March 15, was suggested as his final day upon the surface of the earth and his first day beneath it. Even more chilling was the suggestion that he was assassinated by disgruntled Swedes, who wanted his gold and were jealous of his seafaring skills.

Furthermore, it is well known in literary circles that no less an author than William Shakespeare was aware of this tale regarding Fram the First's demise, and was torn about which assassination he would commit to writing: Fram's or Julius Caesar's, since they both happened on the Ides of March. We all know which death Shakespeare chose to memorialize in the end. Personally, I think Shakespeare made a bad decision.

Just as a precautionary move, we will continue to examine archaelogical and other records in case still more information might become available regarding the saga of Fram the First.

Random things about things ....

I carry two cell phones. (Sometimes, I forget to carry two cell phones.) One is for plain stuff, where the number is known to half the population between Canada and Mexico; one is for personal stuff, where the number is known to few. The one for plain stuff has a loud, straight ring. The one for personal stuff sings out, "Don’t Cry," by Guns n' Roses for its ring.

I stopped at a music store yesterday. I looked at and priced guitars. Man, that would be a kick. I'll see how I feel about it next fall when the November gales confine us seafarers to port. Other than for writing, I'm pretty much ambidextrous. From which side should I learn to play a guitar?

I have a friend who has been to 23 Bob Dylan concerts. She and her eventual husband followed him around the country the summer after they graduated from college, back in the 1990s, just to experience the event in different places. Such an adventure would be fun, wouldn't it? But, which band would be worth listening to that many times these days?

I am not looking to escape life, rather to throw a noose around it, gather it in, and put together the material for a new run at it. A thousand jobs in a thousand places will not happen, but there is every reason to roll the dice again and no reason not to.

I do want to learn how to do the Tango, and to do it with the right person, in the right place and with the right people on the floor doing it along side of us. No phonies allowed. A blogger in Poland who calls himself Epicurious wrote this a few days ago: "Dancing is the most intimate self-dialogue. When we dance, we drop our ego and freeze the moment of time to be in the now. We move to the rhythm of our heart while listening to the whispers of our soul." I think he got it exactly right.

Stepping up to the plate, in a manner of speaking, I began making a calendar. I have commitments I plan to keep in April, May and June, which means Independence Day would be a reasonable date to make a jump. That seems like a very long time from now, but at least the days are getting longer and the air warmer.

Music Note: Listening to Cream ....
Specifically, "Strange Brew / The Very Best of Cream" ....
("White Room" & "Sunshine of Your Love")

Time for buying & for learning about you ....

I've got shopping on my mind

I'm thinking new computer, maybe; new camera, maybe; new firearm, maybe; some new music, probably.

My primary computer is a bit over four years old. The monitor for my backup (1991 model) went to computer heaven a few days ago, and it could be time to turn this one into the backup. Any recommendations?

When I bought this computer, I also purchased a pretty basic digital camera to go along with it. I've never been a particularly good photographer, although I bought my first camera at the age of five (plenty of practice) and I've frequently hung out with photographer-types at work (plenty of expertise available to teach me). It could be time for me to get a "decent" camera. Any recommendations?

It might be time for a new rifle or pistol. My "gun habit" is to buy, sell or trade a few every year, so the number grows gradually. I do not suppose many life-long metropolitan dwellers would understand this idiosyncrasy, but I am a country boy and received instruction in the use of rifles, shotguns and handguns the summer of my tenth year. For the next few years after that, my life revolved around hunting and football. Then, I discovered girls, and my interests blossomed.

In case there are any "gun nuts" out there in never-never land, my most recent purchase was a "Thanksgiving present" for me last November. It was a Fabrique Nationale 6.35 mm (.25 caliber) semi-automatic pistol. This type was called a "Vest Pocket" pistol back in the good old days. It's small. They were manufactured between 1905 and 1940, plus a few later presentation pieces.

There is no complete serial number record to track these pistols but, through bits and pieces of information, I am relatively certain mine was manufactured in 1919. The most fascinating factor about this pistol, to me, is that it was made in Belgium and, by contract agreement, these particular firearms were never available for sale new in the U.S. That means mine had to travel some considerable distance before arriving here. How? Who knows? Maybe in the luggage of an American tourist or soldier returning from Europe?

Me and "old stuff." What can I say?

Before the Vest Pocket, I had gone since last February without a gun purchase. That was a Winchester Model 94 (which means this model was first introduced in 1894), .30-30 caliber, lever action with a tang sight. There are conflicting databases regarding serial numbers for Winchesters. One puts my rifle at late 1940 or early 1941 manufacture; the other at 1942. Sort of old, no matter which date is correct.

My routine is to drive a car on day-to-day business. But, when weather dictates or when I travel, I drive a Suburban. And, in my Suburban, there always dwells what I call my "truck rifle." This old Winchester became my new truck rifle, replacing a Ruger Mini-14. My truck rifle becomes my canoe rifle when I shift from roadway to waterway. (Remember, I have seen lightning strike the unprepared, and I would rather be accused of paranoia than be caught unprepared.)

As you might guess, I really do not need any recommendations regarding firearms, but I never turn down a suggestion. I have not kept track of what is happening in the arena of computers or digital cameras, however, and really could use some advice there.

What can I learn from you?

I have mentioned previously that I was first drawn to the world of blogs last August to read the writings of one particular individual. The next step did not come until sometime between Christmas and New Year's Day, when I started to browse the blogs. About three weeks later, I began one myself.

Even though I'm writing here day after day, the primary reason for my presence continues to be to explore the work of other people, and to learn from them and about them. Life is a mystery to me (if it isn't to you, please explain it to me), and there is nothing so fascinating as people. By that, I mean individuals who lived yesterday, as well as those who do today.

Some bloggers sort of chat about daily life, some chart their trips, some write poetry, some post photographs, some demonstrate their proficiency in the use of profanity, some talk about hobbies, some offer advice and support, some promote causes, some are peddling their wares. The diversity is amazing.

In any case, more than anything else, I'm here to learn about you and you and you. Just don't ask me why, because I'm still working on that. Part of the mystery, I guess. Partly innate and insatiable curiosity, I am certain.

If anything more comes from this "adventure" than learning, so much the better.

Music Note: Listening to "Guns N' Roses" ....
(Guns and roses -- the story of my life)
Specifically, "Use Your Illusion I & II" ....
(Can only stay away from this band so long)