Fishin' with Arnell

In loving memory of my good friend Arnell (7/1972-6/1/1995)

June 2, 1995

My thoughts before the call...

-It was a hectic day. We were getting every thing ready for the big day tomorrow and for you chumps to show up tonight. We've got plenty of chairs, shade house is done, and I'm sure we have plenty of food. I haven't heard from any of you guys lately...I'm sure that I sent the invitations out on time. I heard that you were coming-

Jimmy and I were sitting in the living room and watching some stupid flick when the phone rang. It was Ryan. When he told me to sit down, a rush of chills ran down my neck and back because I knew what kind of phone call it would be. He told me you couldn't come because you had left this world to enter the next.

Those words still echo in my brain like a reoccurring nightmare. They've come back so many times that I will sometimes not believe it to be true. On occasion, I feel that I'll get a call from you out of the blue to bring some beer and my poles. We would go out to Red Lake like that one time we had the boat and fished with your uncles and sisters. There were so many of us in that damned boat that the trolling motor barely got us moving...Yeah, I would be there in a second. But the nightmare is true.

For a long time I was angry at you for dying. I know it sounds selfish and it is but that is how I felt. I was angry that I couldn't make up for the silence we had before. I had to live with that feeling for a long time and I think that's why I started to go fishing by myself. Even now I abhor fishing with anybody because it was a time that I could pray to God and talk to you. It was my church.

Well, it's been ten years. Dude, that's a long time. It's also been a long time since I went fishing. I'll make sure I go soon so we can catch up.

Sea Vittles.............by request

Title: Baked Salmon Filet with Rosemary

Description:
Salmon made simple

Ingredients:
Salmon filet
Rosemary
lemons (2) depends on size of fish
1 onion sliced
white wine ( optional )

Directions:
Arange filet on a baking pan or foil wrap
sprinkle with crushed salt and pepper
sprinkle filet with rosemary
slice one onion and evenly space rings on the fish
slice lemons and also evenly space slices on fish
splash with favorite white wine
cover
Bake in oven until fattest part of fish is 120deg F or

Put it on the GRILL


Number Of Servings:2-6 (depends on fish)

Preparation Time:depends on size of fish and wine consumed

It's like a bee hive for metal bees that will sting your ass

Navy Pride


My little brother, Alex, is deployed to the Persian Gulf this spring. This is part of what he wrote to me in his latest email:

"Hey Bud,
It's good to know all is well back on the homestead.. I am holdin' up, been a long time at sea and fixin' to go insane.. We have two more months to go and our projected date of arrival is the 13th of July and Ray is due on the 12th.. Talk about cutting it close huh? I might be able to fly off from England, but I am not sure if that will work.. Maybe France.. I am not sure about the plans until we are close enough to the dates..
Other then that, we have been floatin' and flyin'.. Supporting the ground troops and if you've been watchin' the news, we had a rough time the last few weeks, lost few planes and pilots..
It's getting hotter and it's sucks, and I have been keepin' my sane by running and workin' out.. Work is the same day in and day out, we had a few major problems this week, but two days of trouble shooting we had it up and running.. I left my camera at home so I can't or have not been able to take some cool shots of sunsets, jets takin' off or landing, oil wells buring off in the distance..
All in all things are okay, but waiting to go home."

He loves what he's doing and I love him for doing it. See you soon Bro.

USS Carl Vinson

Why?

I put in the Empire Strikes Back DVD in a about a half hour ago. Just sitting here blogging and glancing up, checking that nothing has changed since the last time. Then there was a loud noise. KaBlam!!! It sounded like a gun shot; a report from a high powered rifle. This sound came from right out side my front windows. I dashed into the living room and turned out all the lights and stood there looking out the windows and waited for something.....hopefully nothing more. I stood there in the darkness for what seemed like an hour when I noticed that I was trembling. In my own house. My wife and kids are asleep upstairs and I hoped that they're not frightened, so I called out. Nothing. The front blinds were all drawn but I had to take a chance to see if they're OK. They were still sleeping. Thank God.

Only one question, why? Dammit, I live here. I had to go back down stairs and live...Of course, I closed all the windows and blinds. My own home. I cannot allow this to influence my thoughts about living here. Damned degenerates. The movie was still on, I couldn't allow anything to ruin my favorite movie...so I took it out and put in Monty Python's The Life Of Brian...Biggus Dickus, that's some funny shit............but I can't seem to smile right now.

My Mom is a Jedi

I was so excited that Saturday morning because I was going to see The Empire Strikes Back.

Whoa, I had every thing right...I was good all week, I made my bed, I kept my room clean, I was nice to my little brother and sister...Hell yeah, the Force was definately with me. Mom's going to take me and Alex to the show...Alex had better taken a wiz before we get seated, I'll be pissed if I miss anything good.

The movie was great, more than I expected. Too bad that Luke lost his hand and C3PO got blown up...and Han Solo...getting shrinkwrapped in carbonite like a damned T.V. dinner...coulda been worse.

As we walked out side of the Allen Theater, the sun was blinding and it was getting friggin' hot. Well, crap....Mom is runnin' late. We'll just stand here and mind our own business......mind my own business, Alex is starting to do dumb things and ask stupid questions and of course he's the only one on Main Street making light saber sound effects. Dangit, where is she?

My aunt, Verbena, picked us up. Hey, there's my baby sister. Ok, Ok, row row row yer boat.......All the way home.......

We took the turn off but what's with all these cars? Well, damn.......get moving you friggin' rubber neckers.........Hey Auntie, watch out for all that broken glass.....

There it was...Mom's car. Mangled and smashed beyond belief... groceries just scattered every where.....The car looked like a metal beast with all it's guts strewn about the cut slope. She was less than a mile from home.

MOM!!!!

I remember my big brother, Chuck, waving us forward...."get 'em out of here", he yelled... Auntie drove us home.

I cried for days.

That was 25 years ago. Mom is OK, and she has recovered from the injuries. She still has the scars where the Trans Am struck her door. Funny thing though, she has actually tatooed by the black colored fiber glass. Damned drunk driver.

Mom had my aunt pick us up from the movies because she knew we wouldn't like to go grocery shopping. We wouldn't have minded because we wanted to go get some Star Wars action figures. Something in her mind told her to leave us there at the movies. The Force? I'll never know. To this day, she still says that if it weren't for Star Wars we would have been killed in that crash. Well, in those days, seat belts were never used; we probably would have. The Empire Strikes Back is still my favorite and I think my mom is a Jedi. I wonder, if I ask, if she'll get me some Star Wars linens for Christmas.

25 years ago...................whut?

I'm officially mid-mid-life. Yeah I said it twice. MOUNT SAINT HELENS, wow, she erupted 25 years ago today. I was in the 4th grade at the Window Rock Elementary School. I had it right the first time. Anyway, Mr. Hainey was my teacher and he was way cool. I wonder where he is now. Fishing probably.

That damned mountain...she should blow (hee hee) for old times sake. C'mon make the Curley happy.

Star Wars Horoscope

Star Wars Horoscope for Libra

You are on a lifelong pursuit of justice and determined to succeed. You convey the art of persuasion through force. You always display your supreme intelligence. You have a great talent in obtaining balance between yourself and your surroundings. Star wars character you are most like: Obi Wan Kenobie

What is Your Star Wars Horoscope?


I'm not sure about this, some times I feel like C3PO.......always uptight and ready to crap my droid pants and then other times, I feel like Capt. Kirk........I could do almost anything even though it's green. I know, I know, it's not Star Wars you nerds. Sheesh, like I shaved Chewbaca or something.

Granny's Closet and Bun-Huggers

I've been reading alot of blogs put together by alot of people but mainly college students. Well I've been out of college for about 2 years and I really miss it alot. When I was in, I wanted to get out and now that I'm out, I wish I was still in. I think that now that I have to pay for some real bills that it makes long for those old times of dull lectures, oppressing homework and projects, greasy pizza, cold coffee, warm soda, and late nights pushing pencils around and smacking the calculator. Those were the days. Well really, I don't miss that part of college, what I really miss is knocking heads with class mates while doing homework at the CET Building (69) and when it was all done and only when it was all done, skipping off to suck suds and throw a few darts at Bun-Huggers or share the wings of a flightless bird at Granny's Closet. I wonder if they're still 10cents a piece.

Good luck to those that just graduated and to those that are still in, I hope you have a short summer. Rock on.

I took Princess Leia to a Song & Dance

You might be an Navajo Jedi if...

You ever said the phrase, "May the Force be with you...aayyy!"
Your Jedi robe is made out of Pendleton.
You have ever used your lightsaber to butcher a sheep or open a Budweiser.
You discover that Ewoks taste like mutton.
You have ever had a landspeeder up on blocks in your yard.
The worst part of spending time with Yoda is eating his commodity food.
You have ever used the Force to get your tape recorder working so you could record that new Navajo Sundowners album.
You have ever used the Force in negotiations with the BIA.
Your councilman has ever said to you, "Dark side. . . BIA, same thing!"
You have ever had your R2-D2 unit use its self-defense electro-shock thingy to give yourself a perm.
You have a dreamcatcher in the window of your land-speeder.
You have ever fantasized about Princess Leah's frybread.
You have to use pliers to work the doors of your X-Wing and a screwdriver to start it up.
Your lightsaber has duct tape on the handle.
You think "Obi Wan Kenobi" is a Hopi person.
You think Jabba the Hutt looks like a super-size yei bi chei.
You confused Mos Espia cantina for the Shalimar.
You have heard the words, "Luke, I am your father...and your councilman!"
After finally learning the ways and power of the Force, after years of grueling study and contemplative meditation, the first thing you uttered was, "Aaayyy!"
You refer to the Emperor as ch'iidii.
You point to the Emperor and tell little kids "Eeeyah!"
Your pretty sure the Jedi Academy is somewhere in Tsaile.
The first time you saw Ewoks, you thought someone let grandma's sheep play in the mud.
You used your lightsaber to cut plywood for a new outhouse.
You ever went to Jabba the Hutt to pawn your lightsaber.
Whenever you go to the Indian hospital, they always mispronounce your name and say, "Luke Skinwalker!!
The first time you met Chewbacca, you thought he was a skinwalker.
C3PO reminds you of being "somehow, around the guys."
You're pretty sure Jawas talk Hopi.
You've ever hit a sheep with your landspeeder.
You think Princess Leia's hairstylists is Hopi.
All the bootleggers in south Tuba report to Jabba somehow.
You refer to Yoda as shi chei or shi nali.

Curley's Additions

You learned your Navajo Jedi ways from the Mutton Man.
You ever tried you Navajo Jedi mind tricks at a roadblock.
You ever tried to pick up a snag at Class Act with your land speeder.
You think pinons give you more Force.
You have a .22 rifle as back-up to your lightsabre.
Your Navajo Jedi food rations consists of Vienna sausages, Spam, sardines, crackers, bologna sandwiches, and warm Shasta Cola.
You ever named a sheep dog "Chewy".
Your X-wing fighter's muffler is held up with hay baling wire.
You refer to your ex-wife as Darth Asdzaa'.
You got a hicky from Princess Leia.

Not All is Lost

Yesterday I attended a career day exhibit at Tohajilii. My company was one of a few that were invited. I've never been to Tohajilii and at first glance, I thought it looked like alot of other towns found within the borders of the big reservation but there was something different about this place, I saw the people out and about interacting like a big family.

I saw children young and old running and walking in a fun run for the Native American Week celebration. As I drove by them, many were waving and smiling. This was part of my home but I felt alien to these folks. I would never been welcomed like this in Window Rock or in Shiprock, places I've grown up and lived. I'm not sure why, but I don't think I would have. I figured alot of these kids were not beaten down by the mind to sludge influence of video games and television. I bet some of these kids still play with rocks, sticks, friends, and the sheep dogs.

Well I was lead into the gymnasium and shown to a table where I could set up my display. Some of the kids started rolling in and some were curious enough to come by and see what I was doing. I laid out previously completed set of plan sheets, a laptop with InRoads, and a couple of my old text books. Before I could sit down the questions came.

I was astonished and a little stumped by the questions from these little minds. Some didn't know what to ask until I explained what I do at work and that would only start a deluge of why's, what's, where's, and how's. Yeah, there were a few that could care less, and then there were some just wanting a pen and lanyard. Handouts, not on my time, you can have one but not without a question. Even a dumb one. I had to force 'em to think of something, anything. They caught on. It was great.

There was one that really woke me up. It was one of those older kids, baggy pants, tatoos, Ebonically inclined, and probably given up on. First he wanted a pen and I said not without a question.......he stood there.....cussed something under his breath.....and spat forth questions that provoked rememered thoughts I always had as a kid watching US 666 being built. He even asked how superelevations were calculated and why there is a crown on the road surfaces. All for a pen. I asked him what he wanted to do after high school. "Be a rapper or just kick back".

When I was a kid I had those dreams of guitar mastery, big haired fans, and groupies but I always had reality in the background. I would have to get a real job. Reality in some of these young minds are usually laced with false ideals, bling bling, fast cash, and respect expected, not earned. I thought, if only he had a mentor around for guidance and to give him doses of true reality, then not all would be lost. I wish I could for him and kids like him. All I can do is make sure I come back next year.

I drove home after that with a reassured confidence that I may have done some good for these young Dine', sparked something in them to journey on a path of knowledge. A path that leads somewhere.

Thank you for dressing me funny

I saw my mom today. We were at a graduation reception and I finally noticed how much she has aged. I remember my mom as a person always being at the top of her game and today I saw her as a human being, in the physical sense. She is still as beautiful as I remember but with a few scars of triumph. I'm glad that we got to see her because we weren't sure if we were coming today. Lately we've been on two ends of an issue and it may have taken a toll on our relationship. I told her yesterday that no matter what, I still loved her and she said the same.

As you've probably noticed that I'm not always in the best of moods when I'm blogging or buying cars. I use this blog to vent my mind and relieve the pressure of insanity. If I didn't I probably would be out shearing my initials in the sides of sheep or mooning tourists at the Shiprock CityMarket. I guess I found the need to be more straight forward with people and thus my tolerance for some people's actions have dwindled and I think that it's caused certain people to avoid me or be cautious about what they say to me. I guess my mother was afraid that I would speak my mind in a way that would be insensitive or belittling. I reassured her that my thoughts should have no bearing upon any decisions she makes in her life and that I would support her in any way possible. I'm an ass at times but I wouldn't be mean to my mom, sheesh.

I grew up as the middle child, I got hand me down clothes, bikes, toys, and whatever from my older brother and my younger brother and sister got new stuff because they were the "babies" and I wore out half the stuff before they could get them. But, it seems the pattern continued. When I went to school, I didn't have all the cool stuff that the other kids had and my mother for some reason always dressed me in horizontal striped shirts. It took me a long time to figure it out but she continues to this day, well except for last Christmas, to give me shirts or ties with horizontal stripes. I was never a skinny kid so horizontal stripes didn't help but they were new. I've never really asked for clothes or a new bike or anything really except for the keys to the truck on Saturday nights but for what I did have I took extra care of. I've never really griped about it, maybe this is a gripe, I'm just not sure. Well, after a few years and after graduating from college, I started to resent alot of things that I though I was cheated out of because here I am busting my ass off for my family and home while some people (not my siblings of course) get coddled and enabled. Why is it that I see kids these days riding around in a car that their moms and dads had got them for their sixteenth birthday or for high school graduation? It boggles my mind and it makes me sick.

Well, I asked my mom why I was passed over for alot of things and my mom thought I didn't need these things because she figured I would get them on my own. She never figured I would have any trouble achieving anything. She told my wife that I was different from the others and that I could not hold a grudge. She was right, I guess. I won't take a gift if I knew I didn't deserve it or earned it.

As for the horizontal stripes, my mom thought I liked them and it also made sorting clothing easier when she washed them. I just never asked or objected.

I love you Mom. Happy Mother's Day.

The Butt-Gnome won

Well, not at my expense at least. Some dimwit came in and bought the object of my driving desire. It's all business, I guess. I called my salesperson and she told me that she actually made money on the deal. I think she got the gork to pay full price. Well, I lost nothing but some time and I think I gained the knowledge for my next adventure of car buying and purchasing escapades. This one is truly Short N Curley.

Car Dealerships = Wal-Mart = Evil Part II

Well my good people, I walked again. I won this battle, but I'm not sure if I'll win the war. Hopefully, that Jeep will still be there for another chance for me to do the dance because we're already a quarter way through this month, however, if they find some dumbshit shmoe then they win without me to exact my purchasing wrath on those little dealership manager dicks. If you've ever noticed, they are usually under 5'5", almost hobbitlike. They should be called manager butt-gnomes.

Anyway, I got a call from my salesperson and she told me that I could get a better deal including another 1000 bucks off and maybe some change. Buuuuuulllllllllsssshhhhhhiiiittt! These sacksuckers, since last Sunday, increased the amount of my trade-in but also jacked up the cost of the Jeep. Same damned mathematical difference as last time. They think that changing the numbers would make me feel all fuzzy and cozy. Dumb phucks.

This is what it has, said Jeep is a "brand new" 2004 Wrangler Unlimited with a lift kit, chubby tires, 323 miles, and some good trimmin's like automatic tranny, 7 speaker sound with subwoofer, air, hardtop, and a damned compass in the review mirror and some other shtuff. Ok, sounds loaded, BUT this is why I'm pissed, said Jeep is 2 years old, it's almost June 2005 and it was made in 2003, it's used (300+ fuckin' miles and scratched skid plates!), and it's the last one. I walked because they wouldn't even up my upside down condition (1500 bucks, chump-change to these neckbiters) and let me take it at MSRP, AT LEAST, I'm doing them a fuckin' favor, no reach-around but maybe chocolates! Putting the lift kit was a good idea but they took it to shows and demos and scratched up the undercarriage.

If you did all the math and looked at the current models, especially the Rubicon Unlimited model, you would clearly understand.

All I want is to take the top down and go fishing, is that too much to ask? The BooGah and the Punkin Pie don't think so. I appreciate all your support in my car-buying endeavor.

If you want to donate to the Wheels-for-Curley fund, please inquire within. Thank you for your support.

Car Dealerships = Wal-Mart = Evil

1 May, 2005

There's three friggin hours I'll never ever get back. I have a truck, kick-ass to drive and is comfy on the bum, but it's a hog to feed. I have to drive a ways to get to work, let's say an hour each way. Well, at least 37 miles from Rio Rancho to East Albuquerque to get to work. My truck gets about 14-15 miles per gallon of gasoline. Do the math. I tell you, some of this shit should be free. Anyway, so I need a change. Ok, get what I want this time.........let's get a Jeep. Cherokee. Wrangler. No, RUBICON. Lifted. Big'un treads. Lizardlike. Wind in my Hair. New. This is what I want. Let's go to the dealership...Buuuuullllllssshhhhiiitt, these guys don't deal, they want a reach-around with chocolates and your first-born. I spent three hours of my life answering their "what's it going to take to get you to drive away with that Jeep" and their back and forth to the finance manager dance. Then I told him exactly what I wanted.........buy my truck for what I owe and call it even and I don't want my payments to change, I want it the same or lower. That is ultimately what I want. Don't change my life expenses, just change what I drive. Still wasted my time. "We can do this, but not that"...."what if you give us this and we give you that"...Blah blah fuckin' blah. Well, I walked. Nothing has changed, they called me at work today. I'm too pissed to buy anything. I'll see what happens this week.

5 May, 2005

I'm going back in. I'm going to get what I want or I'm walkin'. Wish me luck.

Curley Livin'

The Way It's Supposed To Be. If I had my own TV show like Martha, I'd call it Curley Livin'. I'd spend the day fishin' and telling you of the joys of duct tape, pork rinds, cheap thrills, and a cold homebrew. Summer's a coming, please tune in.


Me and the Boogah (Scary Rabbit) at Steamworks in Durango, Colorado.

My Nali'

Notah Dine' Trading


My Nali holding the rug that she wove for me.


If you have ever wondered, The Two Grey Hills are on the left. This is a picture from the Curley Ranch looking east from the base of the Chuska Mountains.

Fire & Water

My dream was almost over when the sound came...Ba Leeeeeeeep beep beep beep. I'm not sure who came up with this alarm but it is extremely effective. "Attention all firefighters, there is a report of a 962 or a possible 963 approximately 6 miles west of Vans Trading Post on US 160", said the graveyard dispatcher for the Navajo Nation Police Tuba City District. I immediately sat up from my brother's couch on which I slept. The first alert mixed into my dream as her lips were pursed for the taking but she spat forth the second alert, "attention all firefighters, there is a report of a 962 and a possible 963 on US 160 approximately 6 miles west of Vans Trading Post" as required by fire and rescue protocol. The sand, the palm trees, the bay and the boat were all gone. I was again in Dine' Bikeyah, Navajo Land, which is the land of vast sky and continuously dry and vegetation deprived landscape nary a few pinon, juniper, and sage where lived the occassional lizard.
I scanned the room and found my bunkers close to my bed. I was proud at how fast and fluid I donned my bunkers while in the station, but I put my right foot in the left boot and left foot in the right boot and then realizing I've only got my tightie whities on. Had to get dressed first, who knows how long I'd be on duty.
I got to station a few minutes later only still with crusties in my eyes. There was another there but I really didn't know his name. James I think it was. I pulled the bay door open and out went the red mammoth Engine 20. This old thing could only get 57 mph on a good day. Today, as turned out, would be one of the worst.
We headed west into the mid morning fair rush hour. The Western Navajo Fair as it called was why I was temporarily stationed in Tuba City in the fall of 1991. The people would come from miles around to bottleneck through US 264 and US 160 into the little desert town of Tuba City, Arizona. Most of them came to see the exhibits, the carnival, the rodeo, and powwow, and the few who came for no another reason than to swill in the firewater.
James and I approached from the east and saw a mile long string of cars with no oncoming traffic. The road had become blocked. At the end on the string in the horizon was a stack of black smoke. Everything at once ran through my head - park the engine upwind, there's a car burning - don the SCBA, have the extrication tools ready, then I saw the cars. I couldn't tell what kind they were at first, one was upside down turned away from us in the middle of the road burning with a stench that filled the air and seared the nostrils and the mind, and the other was a small blue sedan whose front end driver side was crushed with metal and plastic mangled and shredded from its original form.
I pulled a 1 1/2in line and charged it. We've only got 1 tank full of water, I had better make this good. I dragged the hose while James used the holmatro tool in the door, he couldn't get close enough, the heat was shooting out of the window like it wanted to grab him. I shot water into the window opening with a full fog and dowsed the flames from vinyl, plastic, clothing, and flesh of two.
In the other car, the driver was still in his seat without a soul, cans of Hank's offerings were everywhere. Oddly, there was still a can of beer tightly stuffed between the drivers legs. I guess he was trying to protect that one when the Jeep came flying through his windshield.
There were several more that day, and many more when I went back to Station 12 in Window Rock, Arizona. I miss the station, Engine 10, Rescue 28, my comfy bunkers, and especially the gratitude but I won't miss the too young, too old, too fast, and the too drunk.
I always wanted to finish that dream - maybe the palm trees and sand would come back while I slept - they couldn't for a long time.