I read some books

50) Interpersonal Conflict by Wilmot and Hocker, 339 pgs.
This is a really great book. John and I read it together.Full of communication insight.

51) Bridges Not Walls by John Stewart, 696 pgs
A book about Interpersonal Communications. An excellent way to learn to understand yourself and others.

52) The Challenge of Effective Speaking by Verdber, 343 pgs
Should you ever need to know how to write and give a speech, there you go.

53) Rant by Chuck Palahniuk, 319 pgs
"Haunted" is a really hard act to follow. Would be astonishing and clever by any other author. I liked it, it was worth reading. An excellent description of the Cacophony Society.

54) American Pie by Michale Lee West, 324 pgs
"Crazy Ladies" was better!

55) The Sandman: The Wake by Neil Gaiman, 191 pgs
How did I miss this one when I was reading all the others?! That was really great!

56) America: Religions and Religion by Catherine Albanese, 299 pgs.
How can you bring up Mormonism without mentioning the lizard, the hat or the underoos!


Piece of Art finished, "Flame Becomes a Fire." Survived a rainstorm in the backyard.

Cam De Leon sues Tool

"Desire to help spawns 9 years worth of highly visible, though virtually unrecognized, art and design work in support of best friend's rock band"

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003597438
http://www.myspace.com/camdeleon

Wheels of Polished Steel

My younger sister "Runt" is turning 18 in 3 months. She has never wanted to drive.

Last weekend I showed up at my parents house, grabbed the keys to the Benz, the only automatic they have that isn't the Camaro, and took my sister for a drive. She drove around the cemetary perfectly for an hour. No mistakes.

Today after half an hour of more puttering around, we hit the streets. Perfect driving, until 15 minutes later, she drove the Benz into a muddy ditch. She missed a tree by three inches. I'm glad it wasn't the Camaro. We didn't even have to show some leg before a nice man in a pickup truck with a tow-rope hauled us out. Not a scratch on the Benz and it no longer pulls to the right. :)

We'll work on more turns next week.


My father is a used-car salesman. There are usually 5 cars in his driveway. Permanent Collection: The '74 Volkswagen Pop-up camper van, complete with Grateful Dead sticker and Porsche engine (914) so it can get up the pass. The mid-eighties Mercedes-Benz that sometimes works. The Mid nineties Subaru Legacy station wagon, ~'94 Camaro Police Interceptor (cop shocks, cop breaks, etc).

Usually there are 2-3 "curb" cars, mid-eighties Hondas or Subarus that he's working on and flips for a good profit. For many years there were stock cars and dragsters that he would re-build and race, but he might think he's too old for that now.


The '82 Mercedes-Benz turbo sedan that I learned to drive on, drove from Denver to Vegas going 140 the whole way and back in 2001 and then it was given to my brother the hippy, finally died this week at ~400,000 miles. My beloved steed, your quiet putter will rattle my mind forever.The open road is yours alone.