Chuck Logan and Iraq veterans

After watching the Ken Burns documentary about the War Between the States, I came up with an hypothesis about writings concerning wars. I have done only rudimentary research on this subject. Would welcome comments.
During and just after the war, authors tend to villify war. Is that the word I want? Mailer's *The Naked and the dead*. Tim Obrien's *If I Die in a combat zone*.
About twenty-five years later, authors begin to romanticize the War. That is when the combatants merge into their mid-life crisis.
For the first time, I have found a protagonist who is a veteran of the Gulf War. And off-stage a character has died in Iraq in this episode of the War. This is in Chuck Logan's *South of Shiloh*.
I found this novel a serious consideration of the ordeal of combat. His protagonist waxes philosophical as he observes a reinactment of a battle (skirmish?) of the War of Northern Aggression. The novel compares the Civil War and modern war. And the Battle of Shiloh was said to be the first modern battle.

Friday April 25, 2008

I had a "green dream" I was admonishing a woman for throwing out liquid when she did not know what it was nor what its environmental consequences would be.

The dogs jumped on me and forced me to get up. Skipped exercise. Plan to go to park late in afternoon. Inspired to sew.

I accomplished a great deal for me these days. Went to park at five. Very few people around. Spent an easy evening reading CJ Box *Free Fire*.

Thursday April 24, 2008

Heavy rainstorm last night. During a lull at eleven pm I dshed out and rescued my rubber tree which had been blown over. Dental appointment this morning to amend partial. Every time a tooth comes out they add a falsie to my partial.

Dentist did not even charge me. I get a senior discount anyhow.

Came home and took a nap. zzz Then Lea the librarian called and talked me thru Saving my data base to a disc for backup. I did some sewing. Then a massage. And then, of course, we headed for Ft. Woof. So few dogs there. For a while the big dog side was empty. People feared rain, I guess.

Reading Cat Who Dropped a Bombshell.

9PM Oda Mae just dropped by with a small bowl of popcorn. Sally used to sit on the arm of my chair and eat from the bowl.

Wednesday April 23, 2008

4 AM Woke up and realized I had forgotten about the Penn Primary. Hillary makes a comeback. I am thinking McCain will be our next president. I never thought I would look back on Reagen as not so bad. I turned off alarm. I will get up and take dogs to park immediately. Possble severe weather is predicted for Wed aft.

9:46 AM It is easier to get dressed in hot weather. Fewer clothes.

Writing at 7 PM So far it has not rained but just now I hear thunder. Will turn off computer. Judy and Szabo were at the park. We chatted for more than an hour. Made it to tai chi. Came home and napped. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

And so it goes.

Tuesday April 22, 2008

Lady Chica and I are playing Retreive with a small yogurt can. She can bat it with her paw.

Baptist Center. Slow morning. I may survive. Our network was down for a while. I realized this afternoon that I am using a customized Access data base.

Came home and took a nap. Then to Ft. Woof. I wanted to stay home and read but dogs were adamant. When I was ready to come homemLady Chica met me at the gate just like Blitzen does.

I am about to take a second nap

Monday April 21, 2008

My dream this morning was straight forward. I am concerned about housework. I just cant keep up. It's like the leaves on the sidewalk. Russ keeps sweeping daily and it looks as if it had never been swept. After waking, I chided myself. I am able to live alone and take care of myself. At my age, that is a blessing. Marilyn may never come home.

dashed off to exercise and yoga stretching. I am eating lunch and will be off to tai chi. I want to take a nap.

Survived tai chi and made a library run. Then for a nap. I wsh I had an emoticon with closed eyes. After awaking I did not have time to take dogs to the park. I took them for a walk in the nearby field and that seemed to satisfy them.

Weekly meeting of the Philosophy, Paleontology and Quilting Society. We discussed the ElDorado situation. Both of us think it borders on a witch hunt. It reminds me of the way Amerindians were treated not too long ago.

Sunday morning silence

April 20, 2008
I can't think of a controversal topic. Our pastor is leaving, Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth.
I could argue religion, I guess.
I am a yellow dog Democrat and my favorite aphorism is: Democrats can wrest defeat from Victory. I am afraid that is what Hillary and Obama are doing now.