Back Work Board

     I ended up not having the time off I thought I was going to, so I didn't finish the back work board, but I did make some progress.  Here is a picture of the work board.  It has to be dished out to a 15 foot radius.  I've started the carving, but still have a few more hours to go.   Also, here is a picture of my new vise and shop stand, holding my guitar.  It is a truly amazing tool.

     Here is something from Rumi I read this morning.  So true.

You risk your life to feed desires,
yet you give your soul only short grazing spans,
and those grudgingly.

You borrow ten and repay fourteen.
Most of your decisions can be traced back
to cuisine and sex.

The fuel basket goes from one stokehole
to the next.  Six friends hoist
your handsomeness and carry it
to the cemetery.

Food changes going from the table to the latrine.
You live between deaths,
thinking this is right enough.

Close these eyes to open the other.
Let the center brighten your sight.

     And here is chapter four, for those following the story.

Chapter Four

The Adventure Begins.

     After what could only be described as a sleepless night,  Polly and Mr. Popper met up with the rest of the team.  The girls had not slept well, because they were so excited about their eminent adventure.  Mr. Struggles had gone to bed and gotten tangled in his hammock, and so, slept face down all night and had to have someone free him in the morning.  Bon Bon snored all night, as she usually does, and felt quite refreshed.

     The journeyers met the elders and tribal representatives at the edge of the tribal grounds.  

     “Here are your provisions.  We have packed food for a month.  Not the best food, but it should keep you well nourished.  We have hammocks for all of you, a medical kit, with everything you should need, and a few special surprises, we hope will come in handy.  This is your pack burro, ‘Donkeyhotie’.  I think you will find him, a very able beast.”  the representative said with a pleasant smile.

     “I like oats and straw, apples and figs.  I like to have my nose scratched, and don’t walk right behind me, because I like to poop when I walk.”  Donkeyhotie said, matter of factly.

     Veaster nodded his approval to Donkeyhotie and then began to address the travelers  with the last of their instructions.  “I can’t tell you how much this means to the tribe, that you are all willing to take on such an adventure.  Here is a map.”  he said, as he handed it to Polly. “I have mapped a course to the Dillieyards village.  You will travel deep into the mountains, and when you come to the Valley of the Lukers you will have to cross the great Tuffaluktee river.  There is only one place that we know of to cross.  Look for a wooden barge with a pulley and rope system attached to it.  You should be able to cross there safely.”  he added, trying to comfort their fears.  “Do not set foot in the water, for the Knotty Heads and the Waterdogs (also known as Hellbenders), do not like outsiders.  They can be very territorial and unpredictable.”  he warned.  “After you cross the great Tuffaluktee, you will need to head straight north to the Dillieyards settlement.  The forest is thick with rhododendrons and mountain laurel. It will be difficult to tell direction, so I am giving you a compass, which should help to get you there.” he said, as he handed it to Keona.  

     With a look of grave seriousness, he lowered his voice and said, “When you get to the Dillieyard village, you must ask for their chief. He is called Big Dee.  We know little of him, except that when he breathes, smoke issues from his mouth.  He is painfully slow to act and he loves to eat.  We have given you several boxes of Little Debbie cakes to offer him as a token of your good will.”  he said pointing to the saddle bags on Donkeyhotie.  “As you may have heard, there is a legend about the Dillieyards being Luck Suckers.  We do not have any proof of this, but take the necessary precautions.”  he warned, with a tone that made them all shiver with dread.

     “Monsieur Veaster.  I am not familiar with this legend.  Would you please share it with us, so we may be better equipped when we meet them?”  Keona asked innocently.

      “I shall tell you what I have heard, but bear in mind, that this is a story and nothing more.” he cautioned. “It was many years ago, before I was an elder, and before many of you were born.  There was a man from our tribe who left to seek employment with the Dillieyards.  His name was T Roice Settlehymer.  He met Big Dee and worked for him for seventeen years.  When he returned he was near death.  The shamans nursed him back to health.  He told incredible stories, of how the Dilleyards would look deep into your eyes as they conversed with you.  As they did so, the luck that each person had, would be sucked out and stolen by the Dilleyards.  It got so bad, that everything T Roice Settlehymer would do turned into folly and ruin, and at the same time everything the Dilleyards did turned to fortune and riches.  T Roice didn’t understand what was happening, until one day he happened upon a long time employee of Big Dee.  His name was Pabbie More.  T Roice new Pabbie from their years together in school when they were young.  Pabbie had been the smartest student, with the most potential.  It was thought that he would probably be an elder one day.  As the story goes,  he greeted Pabbie who did not remember T Roice at all.  Pabbie said he was in a hurry, for he had to be a Pollar bear in a cousin's funeral.  He mean’t, a pall- bearer.  After that he would have to go to Abraham Lincolnton’s house, to get a bullnoser to take to Nose Hair’s house, so they could kill the black ricoosters, that lived in the stacoozies.  What he mean’t was, he would have to go to Abraham Lincoln’s house to get a bulldozer to take to Rose Hair’s house, so they could kill the brown recluses, that lived in the jacuzzis.  Then Pabbie yawned and fell asleep standing up.  T Roice Settlehymer new instantly, that this was not the same man that had gone to work for Big Dee several years before.  It was as if his luck had been sucked away, and with it, his brains.  T Roice fled the land of the Dillieyards, with nothing but his life, never to return.”  Veaster concluded.

     “As I cautioned you before, this is only a story, which we have no proof of, but if I were you, I should try not to look directly into their eyes.” he emphasized once more.  “Now if you follow the map and keep a steady pace, you should arrive at the Tuffaluktee in four days.  If there are no further questions, we will bid you good day and Godspeed.”

     “We look forward to seeing you soon, with our mission behind us and the Music Water returned safely to it’s resting place.  When we meet again, I shall play us a beautiful summer’s evening, with the noise of crickers and peepers, and a huge bon fire with marshmallows and chocolate.”  Mr. Popper smiled and said enthusiastically.

     With that they turned, and putting one foot in front of the other, began their adventure.  Mr.Popper led the way, with Donkeyhotie behind, followed by Keona, Thea, Una, Mr. Struggles, and Polly. With Bon Bon bringing up the rear, wagging her tail from left to right, which mean’t she was, so happy, or she wanted something to eat.