I’m never quite sure what to do on Memorial Day. Certainly it’s an important holiday and the basic history behind it is well known and each year it seems to pass me by. The older I get the less right this seems.

My grandfather was in WWII. Perhaps if my father or I had been in the military the holiday might hit closer. It’s rare for my grandfather to discuss his time in Europe at this late stage of his life. He’s not one to dwell on the past too much anyway.

Not to say that he complains about the war, but he does leave me with the impression that the media and history books have painted a much different picture about how tough it really was. He’s left me to work out the blanks. I wonder how many other grandsons are in the same boat I’m in. We want to know more about that time in their life to better understand their sacrifices, but at the same time those in the know don’t really want to talk about it.

What I do know is, is that if there hadn’t been a whole generation of men like him the world might be very different today. Some have called his the greatest generation. He’s always seemed great to me.

So on this day I think about my grandfather and all the other grandfathers like him, and the guys who never got a chance to be grandfathers.

Tech guy reviewed the usage logs today and discovered that site traffic increased more than 50 percent over April. Not too shabby. Time to buy tech guy a beer me thinks. Or maybe a Ask Buddhapuss t-shirt. : )

Anyway, even cooler stuff is coming shortly including a new 2 part poll and the first chapter of The Ridge Runner and possibly the first chapter of Velocity.

We’re also going to incorporate more pictures to the site since there’s lots of bandwidth to spare. Such a visual crutch should help the blog out. Lately after writing for 12 hours a day, I run short on energy for the site.

It’s time to go catch some sun while it’s still shining.

For the first time since launching on January 1, 2004, I missed an update. Sigh.

So what happened? Basically I spent all day Friday editing draft 6 of The Ridge Runner and then the wife came home and after dinner, we passed out. Along the way there was an argument about something. At least it wasn’t exploding eggs.

Anyway, that’s what happened.

Dear Buddhapuss,
I enjoyed sam’s critique of Shrek 2. I also enjoyed the movie. It seems that sam has taken a liking to the Character Puss in Boots. Are you worried that sam is easily distracted by other pussies? Or maybe this question should be directed towards the wife, sorry I digress, What is the potential of a cat like Puss in Shrek of becoming a Zen Master? Can Zen masters look as cool in movies?
Curious in Belle Mead

Dear Curious,
Such loaded questions your single missive contains. You must write in again.

I’m not worried that sam is distracted in the least, for what could be more engaging than providing me kibble? As for the potential of the character Puss in the movie Shrek becoming a Zen masters, I’m sorry to say that cat has a long way to go on the path to Enlightenment. While he was a very cute character ( yes I too heard the chorus of Awww throughout the theater when Puss played cutesy ) other than those black eyes, not much is going on upstairs.

Now as for your last and most important question, can Zen Masters look as cool in movies, you have answered your own question. The answer is yes. Outside of the Matrix, there is nothing cooler than a strapping Zen Master in a fight sequence with an obviously less enlightened Brad Pitt.

Yours in Pats,
Buddhapuss

This blog really straddles two categories, Writing and the Wife, but it’s more about the former than the latter.

So, I’m knee deep in the sixth draft of the Ridge Runner and last night the wife asked to read the first 20 pages. Which is odd, because she’s been supportive throughout this process but typically very hands off. When I finish something, I’ll set aside a a draft for her to read when she has a chance. Afterwards she’ll give me some comments.

Last night when she read the 20 pages what did she say?

The Wife: You got 50 pages like this?
sam: Yes.
The Wife: Then send it out.
sam: Really?
The Wife: This time you’re getting an agent.

There you go. For the first time in 2 years of trying, the Wife digs something I wrote. Hot dog!

Zen Master BP,

I noticed that you said you would sleep on sam’s head because of a new diet selected by him. IMHO, you should also suck the breath out of his mouth as he sleeps. Use the top of his head for a scratching post. He took away your pizza and sushi???? Perhaps giant crabs or cicada will attack him in his sleep. While I am on the topic of cicada, does sam allow you enough time out of doors to allow you to destroy this menace?

Rutreau

Dear Rutreau,

We meet again. I see you still haven’t run grammar check. No matter. Also, I must observe that thus far you have demonstrated a unique hostility towards sam. Be not so harsh for he’s only a budding writer not a Zen Master.

I would like my pizza and sushi back but he is quite intractable on this point. Be not afraid, for the head sleeping campaign is well under way. I’ve also perfected a new technique of tearing whatever papers he leaves on the nightstand to pieces in the early morning. The combined strategy seems to be working, he’s drastically increased my portions. Perhaps it may not be sushi, but it is more food.

And now to address your question about whether I’m an outdoor cat or not. A Zen Master is happy no matter where they are. That being said, I rather like sleeping near the radiators during the winter months and lounging near the AC during the summer.

Yours in Pats,
Buddhapuss

The Ruby Tuesday’s near our house has been a quiet forgotten corner in the franchise, but all that changed recently when they went low carb. Before the switch, this was the sort of place one could walk into on a Saturday night at 7pm and get a table with a no minute wait.

Now the same place packs them in and the secret is the new menu and fare. Not only do they offer low carb choices, but the menu discloses the caloric breakdown of every item for sale, including booze and desserts. These days the only easy night to snag a table is Monday.

In an effort to better serve samhilliard.com readers, I’m proud to announce our new low carb venture. Effective now, these blogs are 100 percent carb free! No carbs ever! And there’s no fat, no excess fiber, no MSG and we never fry in partially hydrogenated oil. Sodium? Never touch the stuff.

You see you just gotta read this blog, because it’s good for the body. That’s right samhilliard.com a 100 percent pure blog. And now with no carbs!