I think I might go up to Pymatuning this weekend. The weather is supposed to be pretty fair. Even if it's not, I think I'll still head up. I thought about stopping there after I drove my daughter to Erie last week, but two things stopped me. First, I had 30 cases of martini glasses that I had to deliver. Second, the off-ramp from I-79 to Meadville was closed and I didn't feel like taking the long way around. Plus, I wanted to stop at the Timberland store in Grove City to get some new boots. Which is what I did.

So, anyway, I don't know if my brother and/or his wife have gone (or is it has gone) up to un-winterize the cabin yet. If they didn't, that would mean the first half of my time up there would be spent working. Which is OK. I'd still have some "me" time, which is why I go up there in the first place.That and the garlic-butter wings at the Welcome Inn. I guess I'll play it by ear.

Thank You For Your Time.

Earlier today, as I was taking my morning hike, I encountered three coyotes. No big deal. I see coyotes from time to time, but they will usually take off running as soon as they spot me. Not these three. These three stalked me. They actually started toward me at one point, but backed off when I said "uh-uh, stay there". But as I continued to walk, they walked with me, about 40 feet off the trail on a parallel course. After about five minutes, the brush got too thick for me to see them and that was the last of the encounter. I shared my story with my family at the dinner table, but I was met with much skepticism. Fine, I don't care, I know the truth. And that was the end of that. Or so I thought. Shortly after 11pm my wife yells "put on channel 2!". I did. And there on channel 2 was a woman telling a story about three coyotes terrorizing her and her dog. Right in the very part of the park where I had my encounter. They never approached her, but they "stalked" her. Only, they stayed with her for 45 minutes before disappearing.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08117/876775-54.stm

So, anyway, I got to say "Ha! I told you so! I'm not some kind of coyote story making up loser!" And they all said "Yeah, whatever."

Thank you for your time.

Jim Steinman, who is probably best known for writing Meat Loaf's best songs, released a solo album in the early eighties. Nestled among the songs was a spoken-word track called "Love And Death And An American Guitar". For some reason this bit of poetry has been floating around my head for the past few days. Just so you know how warped my mind can be, I've decided to share it with you.

"Love And Death And An American Guitar"
by
Jim Steinman

I remember everything!
I remember every little thing as if it happened only yesterday.
I was barely 17 and I once killed a boy with a Fender guitar.
I don't remember if it was a Telecaster or a Stratocaster,but i do remember
that it had a heart of chrome and a voice like a horny angel.
I don't remember if it was a Telecaster or a Stratocaster, but I do remember
that it wasn't at all easy.
It required the perfect combination of the right powerchords and the precise angle
from which to strike.
The guitar bled for about a week afterwards and the blood was
ooh...
dark and rich like wild berries.
The blood of the guitar was Chuck Berry red!
The guitar bled for about a week afterwards and it rung out beautifully ,
and I was able to play notes that I had never even heard before.
So I took my guitar and I smashed it against the wall!!
I smashed it against the floor!!
I smashed it against the body of a varsity cheerleader!!
I smashed it against the hood of a car
I smashed it against a 1981-Harley Davidson...
The Harley howled in pain, the guitar howled in heat!
I ran up the stairs to my parents bedroom
Mommy and Daddy were sleeping in the moonlight
slowly I opened the door creeping in the shadows right up to the foot of the bed
I raised my guitar high above my head and just as I was
about to bring the guitar crashing down upon the center of the bed
my father woke up screaming:
"stop...wait a minute..stop it,boy"
"what do you think you're doing???
That's no way to treat an expensive musical instrument"
And I said "god damn it, daddy!!!
You know I love you....."
"BUT YOU GOT A HELL OF A LOT TO LEARN ABOUT ROCK AND ROLL!!!!!"

By the way, some years after Steinman released the original, Meat Loaf released a re-make, changing the title, for some reason, to "Wasted Youth".

Thank you for your time.

After several attempts, I have finally managed to capture the previously mentioned black squirrel on film.

Thank you for your time.

Today, April 15, is the day federal taxes are due in the United States. I know this because it was the lead story on every newscast I have seen so far today. And tonight, every 11:00 newscast is sure to feature exciting live video of a postal worker standing on a corner collecting returns from last-minute filers. This is some hardcore reporting, people. It's not like this sort of thing happens every day. Just one day. The same day. Every year. THIS IS NOT NEWS! The word "news" implies something different is happening. Something out of the ordinary. Something NEW(s). Why do the producers of these broadcasts assume that everyone who is watching is some kind of mouth-breathing moron mesmerized by anything that comes out of the magic picture box? Why do they subject us to live reports from the scene of an incident that occurred days, weeks or even years ago? What's the point of that? There is a local station that actually gives live reports from their own parking lot, even though the story has nothing to do with that location. "Reporting live from just outside the studio". ?????????

Anyway, I just felt like venting about the media. Again. I'll try to restrain myself in the future.

Thank you for your time.