The Arrogance of Language Illuminated and Dismantled by Stephen Fry...

... He could be a genius.

I stumbled across this with a great laugh. It is one of my many myriads of Hot buttons. :) He just says it with a far more educated eloquence.

I have on occasion been... uhhhh... criticized for my not so infrequent modification of the English language.

It has ALWAYS been my opinion that the ONLY use and purpose for language was to allow one person to communicate with another... as clearly and as accurately as possible. And by 'accurately' I Mean... holding as close to the colors and intentions and beliefs of the speaker/writer as possible; NOT the reader or listener.

While a writer is wasting his time if he puts the words down in a way that makes them indecipherable; the opposite is also true. If he speaks in the voice of the reader, his OWN voice is lost in the mire of political correctness. He must strike that balance to put his meaning across.

However, it is ALSO incumbent on the receiver to place themselves in the proper "Place" to "catch the ball" that the writer has thrown.

If, they repetitively miss the catch, the problem is largely theirs to correct. They need to take the steps to expand their base of knowledge and thereby expand their ability to communicate. The push to grow and expand language cannot only be vested in the hands of writers and speakers. The audience must also invest some effort into the mix. They must stretch their understanding to keep pace.

And just think, What better way is there to expand that base upon which you build your communication... than to Travel? Talking to different people along the way, who hail from widely separated places and cultures... and opposing philosophies?

As you make those journeys keep in mind; Since Words and Language are simply sounds employed to convey the thoughts of the speaker - or writer- and if those sounds or words are assembled in a manner and context that transmits the meaning of those thoughts with clarity and understanding... (assuming the receiver has done their part) than Language has been used correctly.

... and if the receiver has NOT done their part?... then the misuse of language has not been fully the responsibility of the speaker or writer.

Grammar, spelling and societal snob approval of speech and words be damned.

I read in the comments of the following audio essay; "If I be talkin' and you be understandin', then we be communicatin'." -Booker T. Washington ... 'nuff said?

Between Booker T and Stephen Fry... I feel pretty much set free to continue stretching and... uh ... improving the language.

The audio essay I found;



So... with that in mind... I'm back to re-reading the 60,000 words of my newest deliberate abuse of the English language as we know it ;) to prepare for carving out the remaining 1/3 or so yet to be written.

It's a tough job.. Sitting in the shade of the tall trees of Oregon's Jessie Honeyman State park reading my partial manuscript that I emailed to my Kindle. :)

Reading, Studying... and Sharpening my Word Whittler
Brian

From Top Dollar Scenery in Free Camps and Rollin' Homes that Have Gone Debt Free...

... to another Gift Camp from the State of Oregon, it's been a good week.

We stayed in Bullards Beach for five full days... Most of which rained. :) Which was OK since it allowed me the excuse I needed to sit inside doing... Cover your Ears!... work!

I been doggin' it too long and really been buckling down to get the site rebuilds done. While doing that I've been studying and researching and signing up and getting approved by a variety of affiliate sponsors.

The idea being that as I get the rebuild a bit further along you'll start seeing the links for camping equipment, clothing to have you dressed to the nines out in the woods, and there's even an outfit where you can get your best travel shots or whatever photography you do printed into high quality canvas prints for display.

As always, it's my intention to keep those low key and out of your way so you can find the info you want... and those links will just be there for you if and when you want 'em. Of course the deal with affiliate sponsors is that when you do utilize that vendor, I get a small piece of the pie for sending them the customer.

That leaves me the responsibility of only presenting quality companies to serve your needs. I'm looking forward to working with 'em! and lining up a place where you can have some confidence you'll find a reliable company.

So... that's a little bit more coming to the sites over the next few weeks... assuming I don't fall off the wagon and go completely back to the lazy drifter I've been for a bit! :)

In between rain showers we were able to get out and around a few times and collect up some memories and views of the place.

*The grass covered Dune at Bullards Beach*

I was pretty impressed with the paint and the dun below.They stood quiet facing into the wind while the A-Rab above dinked around all goosey in the breeze. I have to admit, the sand was pretty stinging, but those two below showed how a good mount should do it. ;)

I always wanted to ride on the beach... There's just no room beside the Raider to carry a saddle on the truck... and I'm pretty sure loading a horse in the fiver is a non-starter!

Even if the wind is blowin'... come back over the dunes off the beach and you're quickly sheltered by the trees and shrubs that fill the park and add plenty to the feel and privacy of the place. Even though there might be gobs of people close by, I didn't get that claustrophobic sensation I often get in such camps.

*View of the Draw Bridge from Bullards Beach*

We made the short run up to Coos Bay from camp for a moh-mentous OH-Kay-shun last Tuesday. The rig that was supposed to have got cleared by the sale of the house three years back, and didn't but you already know that story... finally got cleared according to the original 12 year plan. We made the final payment!

As hard as we've used it, the last year has been a horse race to see which would come first, the end of the debt or the end of the rig. She's road weary sure and certain. But now, as of Tuesday, our home on the highway is free and clear. Hopefully she'll hold up for a few more miles of at least repairable wandering! HooYa!

Coos Bay is an interesting place. If you only see the bit that lays along Hwy 101 you'd take it to be a worn, kinda shabby place. That would be a mistaken first impression. You have to turn west and climb the ridge away from the highway, and a whole other personality is gonna open up to you. Don't trust first impressions.

One thing I'm really taken with in Oregon is the attention they give to Vets. Ever'where you look there's plaques and memorials. It makes an old soldier feel kinda good, and grateful.

We're cheapin' out as much as we can this month in our continuing effort to catch back up after last months fun in Lincoln. ;) so when the Free Five day limit on our New Oregon Special Access pass for Vets rang the bell... we bumped a few miles north to just below Florence.

We're now settled in another state park to finish out this months allotment of ten free days at Jessie M. Honeyman state park.

Now... me being an inveterate boondocker and all... hmmm... that sounds a lot like a spineless cheapskate if you think about it! :) anyway... whichever I am... it's a bit of a surprise how nice these state parks are in Oregon. I expect the fact that I'm getting them as a gift to Disabled Vets has a hell of a lot to do with my change of heart!

But I'll tell you... being able to walk over to the shower house that's hidden in the trees just behind our camp... and stand under a hot shower till my silky soft lil' kiester is wrinkled like a prune from all that hot water is pure luxury... to a fella accustomed to bein' stingy with water and waste tank space!

Combine that with the scenery 'round about and like I was concerned the other day... these camps could be my ruination!

*Bridge at Coos Bay*

They don't build bridges the way they used to. It's a shame. The bridge at Coos Bay is a thing of beauty

Who decided that they should stop building bridges and public works that are beautiful anyway? I mean, If we're going to spend billions rebuilding the failing infrastructure of the country... why don't we follow some of the lessons of the past and QUIT with the nasty, ugly slabs of concrete?

Send the bridge architects on a trip to Oregon and Washington... and remind them how something utilitarian can still be a work of art that makes you smile and remember when you cross it...

Can you remember the last bridge you crossed? Did IT make you think; Wow, that is awesome! ???

We're running into one lil' burp in the road... the 4th of July... Since planning and reservations and such are not something I function well around ... We've got no place locked down to take us through the fourth.

Our "Cheap" stay here runs out the morning of the first. We could stay on I guess, but then the price jumps to $25 bucks a day or so... which for us is a budget buster... that is... if we had a budget left to BE busted. :)

This year the 4th comes earlier in the week... and there's NO reservations to be had at this late date... Soooo... what we're shootin' to do is be ready to roll, bright and early on the 1st... and try to scoot into a non-reservable site, just another bump north, to hog until the holiday passes!

Part of this biker cowboy master minded plan is to leave a six pack sitting out on the steps the next few nights... tucked into the back of one of those live traps, with one bottle popped open allowing its sweet scent to waft back into the forest... with any luck I'll catch that lil' Murphy pest and leave that merry mutant chained to the flagpole when we leave! Ha!

But then... like I said... me and plans...

Anyhoo... if you're comin' to the Pacific North West... find a way to take your time. Get out of your rig and walk on the beach... stroll through the tall timber... and be glad that you were able to be here.

Mountain High ~ Low on the Coast
Brian

Go here... go there... This one or that one? but what about the other... Oh look! A Butterfly!

Scattered, dis-focused and debilitated by the indecision of a prosperous imagination.

I have tripped and fell face first into the dreaded sewer of too many options and new bright Shiny bits. My mouth and ears and eyes are full of the sand of things that could be... if only... I Could Freaking CHOOSE! ;)

Possibilities... arrrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhh.

You know the deal... saddle a guy with too many choices and options and possibilities and the consequence is... NO CHOICES get made... and nothing gets done, cuz you get stuck in that tangled web of this that or the other.

Oooooffff... time to take a deep breath... suck it up... Cowboy Up and CHOOSE! and find a way to stop the niggling voices in the hollow recesses of an over active imagination, squalling that I chose wrong, from overpowering the ringing in my ears!

*Looking out of Old Town Bandon Oregon*

So... with the voices echoing in the dark void...and... before the rains returned last night we made a long mid day visit into town to peruse... that's a word you'll find few broke down biker cowboy wandering drifters using... the wares of the Bandon Farmers Market.

Tasted a few samples, Heidi added a sponge drying ceramic doo dad from a local potter... to add to the clutter around the sink and covering up the last of the open flat surface; thereby preventing dust from settling on that last bit of unused counter top...

... and got a tip from the potter to visit a local chocolate shop... a Spot known as "Coastal Mist".

Yeah... the "voices" in my head distracted and confused me such that though we declined to buy lunch at the farmers market for five bucks... 'cause we need to be more frugal...

... The $8 dropped at at a chocolate shop made supreme sense...

What can I say? It's a morality issue. Passing by chocolate is like slapping Nuns or spilling Beer!

It's a despicable thing to contemplate.

If you stop and think about it... it actually is a lot more frugal to eat chocolate... especially REAL chocolate...

... than fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts.

The calories of that gooey goodness are gonna last a LOT longer than that dang lettuce and walnuts!

And... I am weary of a world of reason, sense, duty, and the burdens of being sensible... Which would you rather have carved on your tombstone? "He was a reliable bloke that worked hard every day" ... or ... "He was a wild and wooly son-of-gun that lived his entire life with a glint in his eye, his hair on fire and his heart thumping like a Drum." ???

If you're one of those that has refused to do some dodgy or distasteful Thing of drudgery ...

...until "Pigs Fly"... here's a heads up...

You might just want to stay clear of Bandon...

We spent quite a lil' while walking around the old town area... which seems to be mostly a parking area for Harleys...

Every pub, tavern and eatery had its compliment sitting at the curb... I didn't see any "Metrics Forbidden" signs at the city limits... but from the ratio of Harleys to "Others" I was wondering if I'd just missed it! ;)

A couple of things pretty hard to miss are the "statues" built entirely of Sea Trash...

Proof the old saying is true I guess; "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

*A Barbie Hunting Car?*

Well, on this rainy day, between strolls between squalls, I better get back to Cowboyin' Up to sortin' through the conflagration of confusions to Make a Choice or two... or all you'll see in the future is a picture of a bald head with crossed eyes, a wild grimace... and smoke curling out of his ears...

Duckin' and Choosin'
Brian