“The Maltese” The Chopper Kingdoms "Iron Cross"

I have slowly gathered an infinity or errant divine for the Maltese Cross. I picked the symbol to round out a street tag for Peace-Up. This was in 2001; with my brother Adam while designing a logo to help seed the concept, propagate a movement, and add visual aide to the life of Peace-Up, then the first writing Earth. I began by creating a peace sign followed by “up” with a Maltese above the word “up” as a point of unity and truth. During the rise in popularity of the Maltese cross, pushed by the chopper culture, my curiosity to know more about this symbol and its history was spurred to an all time high. I asked my father if he could do an online search on a special Maltese I had purchased. The cross was coated with black enamel with a brass weave edging the outside. The center of the cross held a bronze disk with inscriptions: starting from the top the first pictorial was the eye in the sky, under this were three circles each with a letter, “F”, “L”, and “T”. The bottom of the disk contained skull and cross bones: furthermore, the entire finished product could be considered a key chain or pendant. I bought the Maltese the day before I purchased my KZ1100 in 2004’ I made it to the “Rhody Run” that year on my birthday, thus began my unofficial prospect for the Hells Angels motor cycle club. The three letters represented words: faith, loyalty, and truth. These words give weight to the term or state of honor. I defined the state of honor as so, “To do what must be done an expression of duty, loyalty and love.”

            Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. By faith in the Lords plan and Jesus do I step over and over into dark places searching for suffering spirits that I may be a tangible positive friend. I have moved mountains rock by rock, and have seen the plains and hills shaken by a whispered prayer. Only by keeping faith will I move forward to the next challenge, lesson, or goal. This seed has become the wings of freedom for my soul during song, a freedom that is hard to describe without music accompaniment.

            Loyalty is in the center as well it should be. Loyalty is of duty; a steadfast faithfulness the hold the line till the end, it is an endurance of suffering that creates character. It is what a visionary expresses when he knows the goal is worthy and noble. Loyalty is pledged by a knight to his king, and what gives strength to an army. It is what a king must keep in his thoughts about the very least of his subjects, so they maybe best served by his decrees. Loyalty is brotherhood.

            Truth, the final moment where judgment looms, or freedom reigns. The home is started on the cornerstone of truth. To know faith is to see truth going beyond the self. To walk with the old code as a knight, truth must be worn as a cape, covering all, and defining our march. Truth never changes, or loses its merit. To thine own self be true.

            The Maltese cross originates from the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea. It refers to a Sect of crusaders that originally were stationed in Jerusalem, the knights of Saint John, the Hospitallers. The knights were forced to leave the Holy Land in 1291 and relocated on the island of Cyprus. In 1309 they took the island of Rhodes until 1522. They re-established their head quarters on the island fortress of Malta in 1503. There they stayed never defeated until Napoleon won the isle during his campaign for world dominance. The island was returned to the knights after his defeat. I am a knight of the sovereign military order of Saint John; furthermore, I am the Maltese.

Thor

   

 

Fires, Slides. Lightining, Destruction, Burning, Pacific West #ActClimateChange

 

The whole Pacific Plate has been rocking for the last year, and releasing pressure on major tectonic plate movement all around the "Ring of fire". We have only seen small amounts compared to the opposite side of the plate where several major Quakes and minor have been occurring, and recorded. In our little area of America we live along a volcanic line.

I could really go on about this for a while, Lane Community College understudy mass movements, geology, tectonics, plate movement, and then caught this guy Youtube "Suspicious Observer" 2 MIn news, he was locked into the geo and aqua net, and ran down global activity, then solar effects, very brief but followed by solid links (all info free Govt & International.) (Proved a hypo I had in Astronomy Gravity wells vrs plate tectonics, got a B for presentation of concept gravity well but had no correlation that gravity had anything to do with plate tectonics.. time 2010) , everyday, get 50K views. anyways my brain info, and ongoing info and in "THOR" factor.. lot going on, we are at a precipice I said on a Chef John "The Ghetto Gourmet"    show months ago.. Can't find it.  Weather, Class 5 ,,... dry vrs wild fires, aquifers all messed up, slides. The West was not built up like the East, it is like new grass it is so young in places and it will be havoc. (Here & Other places here are very old, very stable.) That is why the EM broadcast has went from once a month to 3 times a week. I saw the heat come back east, then the storms, lighting across the sky then the dry hit, hot skies, but east is humid, here dry. Starting to follow same pattern. I saw map in a truck stop driving here it was about gas prices for truckers routes. What it also showed was O3 loss and Co2 build up by color, red being the worst over the big cities back east, orange was better but covered most of the east coast cali and a few high population centers, now as the colors changed on this map the Rocky's had the most pure blue the cleanest color (cheapest gas.) green was the rest of the country unless like the Rocky's it had low population Cascades, Wy Mo Daks Wash st Olympia  and N. Can and a little patch right over  the Willamette Valley. I was driving a big truck and it was costing me a bundle so this map stuck in my head. So di the destination. Map June 96'

THOR

 

“There's something you don’t see everyday; A Cop shaking a Bikers Hand.”

Chpt Wild Horses

         Cont... what happened to him.

The buses next stop was a change over, and we were required to gather our luggage and wait in the terminal. James and I were pretty close by then and still wound up sitting next to each other. I saw some of our new passengers in the terminal among the hustle and bustle of the Gray hound holiday schedule. A family unit was joining our bus a mother and her adolescent daughter and young son. I noticed the way this young girl was acting was too mature for her age. We all got on the next bus and the family sat in the row in front of us. The boy and his mother on the left side of the bus and the teenage girl on the right side, and after a while a young man sits down in front of me boxing the teenage girl against the window. My red flags went up and I said to my self, “This guys either a pervert or he is just going to teach the girl what is appropriate in way of teasing and playful flirting.” I pointed at the two of them and looked at James while I shrugged my shoulders. He responded in kind with his own gesture of non-committal. It was late and we soon all fell asleep for we had been waiting in the terminal for some time. I have a sort of alarm system that wakes me when something is wrong. I know to keep quiet when this alarm goes off, quiet, still, and just to listen. Only two people were awake on the bus, the man in front of me and the teenage girl.  In this case I was awoke in time to hear this, “No, stop, please,” in barely a whisper. In one motion I reached over the seat with my left hand and grabbed the man by his hair while my other hand with knife enclosed circled around and jacked the man against his seat with the knife pressing so hard on his throat he was barely able to speak. I yelled with a deep attack voice, “How fucking old are you?”

 A strangled “nineteen” issued forth from his mouth. The bus was suddenly very awake.

I continued with my assertion of the facts, for I had asked the girl how old she was earlier and he was present. “That girl is fifteen years old, and you’re a full grown man.” The mother assumed a tardy control over her daughter and moved her across the isle. The bus driver stopped the bus and made a radio call to center dispatch who in turn called the police; they would be at Salt Lake City awaiting the buses arrival. Two men positioned them selves at the side of the young mans seat. A rider behind me began to creep by me, real slow and real low. I stopped him and got him to go back to his seat. He explained he had a daughter of his own. I knew I had just saved both of them from trouble; the idiot pervert from a beating and the other from going to jail for assault. He reached over the seat and held my hand with both his hands and controlled his violent urges. He pulled hard. We entered the next bus depot and police were waiting including the Sergeant. I gave over my knife and sheath to James who passed it on to another rider. As we exited the bus the bus driver stopped and shook my hand, and then said, “I was wondering if I was going to use my new toy” and he showed us his tazer, “I was ready to taz him with 20,000 volts.” We both gave a chuckle.

The police offered the proper amount of questions, and then one asked about the knife. I said, “Knife? What knife?” Apparently the lady did not want to press charges which would have been a difficulty because she lived in St. Louis and it would require testimony from her daughter and me. The police said the guy had previous charges for touching a minor and was on parole. The dude’s mother was at the station waiting for her son, and I remember some lady verbally accosting her and saying, “What type of boy are you raising?” while waving a gesture of finality, and storming off.

After finishing my Q and A I got back on the bus. I asked hands wide, "Did I do good?" The whole bus erupted into applause. I was surprised, and I nodded my head, humble tough guy as I walked back to my seat. Just before the bus left the Sergeant got on and introduced himself to me, and shook my hand. I said, “There's something you don’t see everyday; a cop shaking a bikers hand.” The bus geared up and we on our way to St. Louis. The guy, who had my knife, brought it back to me with a glinting smile on his face, and shook my hand, James, just looked on with respect. We would part ways in St. Louis but until then we would sing songs and have a rather good time. I remember the teenage girl stepped into the world of a child again and played with abandon with her little brother.    

Jeff Santo Director Movie "Dead in 5 Heartbeats" by Sonny Barger

I would first like to say it is an honor to have this opportunity, not only to speak to you, but to hear about your close work with Sonny Barger as you created his book "Dead in 5 heartbeats " into a real portrait of what Motorcycle Club life is, and also to be able to express some of it to Eugene and Springfield Oregon.

 

I also have to say; I have not read this one of Sonny Barger's books but I have seen the movie, "Dead in 5 Heart Beats"

 

 

THOR:

 

Q. 1 I caught a few lines in this movie that really impressed me, that lay true to how business is handled in Club life. Dialog, you said yourself in an interview, that was often posed by Club Members, lending scenes even more authenticity. I think I got one or two of those discussions, the one over Chess, where concepts like those displayed in "SunTzu" Art of War, and the Bench Press scene had that "The real," feel that let you know you are dealing with Men practiced in the Art of "A Street Code" a "Respect," that was not just given but earned over time.   

 

Did I get those right? and If not which such lines were worked into the script by Club Members beyond the "No Biker, would say that.." ?  

 

 

Jeff:

 

The Chess game dialogue between Patch and Rollie came straight from the book. Rollie was played by Anthony "Matrix" Anderson who is a real club member of the Rollin Knights. He's their president now. And Jeff Black, who played Patch, has been riding a bike for over 25 years, hanging out in the culture. I knew Jeff for sometime now, we're both from Chicago, and when I cast him for the lead character of Patch Kinkade, I knew he had a certain natural charisma about him and an innate street confidence.  Most of the actors were real club members or guys that I had a feeling could exist within the MC culture.  There might not have been an abundance of acting experience on the set but there sure was plenty of MC experience and a ton of heart to portray it correctly. I don't think any of this film would have its authenticity without the guys who played the parts and the words and stories that came from the legend himself, Sonny Barger.

 

 

THOR:

 

Q 2. Tell us about working with Sonny Barger, of the  Hells Angels  who is the Father of the Chopper Culture, and listening to the wisdom of a Living Legend. Can you give us a piece of that wisdom as a "Leader" that maybe you picked up while working with him on or off the set, a look into Sonny Barger shall we say?

 

 

Jeff:

 

All you need to do is watch the Making Of Documentary, Independence & Guts, that comes with the 2 disc DVD collectable set. It's all there... why and how this extremely unique film was made. Two words... Sonny Barger. You can't bring that many Motorcycle Clubs together, for 24 days, in the dead of summer in Arizona, and actual succeed in making a movie, without the leadership of Sonny Barger putting the word out there. I have a lot of years of experience in the independent film world. It's almost impossible today for an independent movie to succeed on a creative level and financial level. There's just not enough support within the film industry to make it happen. We had over 250 bikers participate in our film, we shot in over 45 different locations, and we filmed in real clubhouses. Real Motorcycle Clubs played themselves and the main fictional club in the movie, the Infidelz, ninety percent of them were played by real Red & White Club Members. We made a movie that people in the culture are enjoying, and a lot of people are saying they've watched it multiple times. We made this film and are distributing this film 100% on our own and we are succeeding. The wisdom I have been fortunate to absorb from Sonny and all the MC Members has been life changing. I am wiser and tougher for making this film. I've been a filmmaker for 20 years... and I'm a biker now, too!

 

 

THOR:

 

Q 3. Here comes  a bad word," FucKIn HOLLYWOOD", I got to know what is the deal? I mean I got "respect" on how you are distributing this movie, and all and the how of the grass roots work you do to get a project like this off the ground,  I even know how Clubs internationally have backed this movie and releases even when running into confrontations. But I ask, has anyone called Sonny Barger and showed respect and offered to help in this project or more so endorse it? and would Sonny accept a word from Mick Jagger from the Rolling Stones who they worked with long ago, or Television Actors from the big hit show 'Son of Anarchy' or Movies Stars even?

I don't see Sonny and Mick Jagger talking anytime soon. To answer your question, "Have we had any Film or TV Industry Folks offer to help get our film out there?" The answer is NO. Sonny's not the kind of person who's going to call someone up in the Industry and ask for help, it's not his style. Frankly, it's not our style. Anytime you ask for help, in the Industry, on something like our film... it's usually half-ass shit. Our film is like an alien project to Critics and Industry people. They don't care to take the time to really look at what this is or want to understand it. I had one "so-called legitimate Critic" watch the film and his reply was, "when I watch an Independent Film that I don't take to, I'd rather not review it so it doesn't hurt the film". Bottom line, the guy was scared to give it any kind of review. If it was a bad review, he was probably afraid that someone in the culture would get on him, If he gave a good review, he was probably afraid a bunch of his peers would get on him. On the bright side of that, we're probably the number one Independent Film selling on DVD... I'm not talking about the Independent Films that call themselves Independent and they're made and sold by Industry Production Companies. I'm talking about the 100% Independent Film that was made and sold by people like us, outside the system. I don't think there's another film out there like us. And if there is, RIGHT ON, give us a call so we can band together and help each other out. We're succeeding because of our audience. The motorcycle culture has embraced our film for the truth in it. Would we accept someone's help in the Industry? Absolutely, as long as it's real and fair. But we're not waiting on anybody. We're in the process now of having seven different languages put to our DVD and we're going to be doing downloads & streaming on iTunes in the next month. Plus we shot it in 3D, that's still to come.

 

 

THOR:

 

Q 4.  I see something in the quiet lines, and the no dialogue, times where action was subtle, yet powerful, like with the Sgt Infidel & weed, not a word was said, that was real, and if you weren't watching understanding brotherhood of these men, the end scene, "He went fishing."  Not to ruin the movie on either account, but these quiet scenes, expressive powerful, made the movie. Is that what you and Sonny worked on because you said it was different in the book, and is that what you wanted it to say?

Jeff:

We really stayed true to the book as much as we could. Certain elements in the story had to change because the scope of the book was too big for the size of the independent production we were putting together.  Anything that I would change I would discuss with Sonny first. Nothing was changed unless it was approved by him. He gave me some great creative freedom and really liked the subtle adaptations I came up with. Most of the stuff that changed came from what I experienced around Sonny and the Club anyway. For example: Sonny set up a time for me to meet Robert "Chico" Mora, who played Ahab in the film. Sonny thought Chico(Phoenix Red & White) would be great for the part... and HE WAS GREAT. I was supposed to meet Chico at the Cave Creek Clubhouse at 8pm, and I had never been to a Clubhouse event before. It was my first time. And when it comes to TIME with Sonny Barger, you better always be ON TIME. I wasn't, this particular night. I was late. I was waiting on this film crew guy that was late meeting me before we went to the clubhouse. When I showed up to the clubhouse, I remember it was dark and ominous. Two big guys were standing guard outside, shining little flashlights on me and my late-ass film crew associate. I felt like I was entering into a third world country. I had no idea where the fuck I was, except that I was late. I said who I was and one of the club guards(that's how I referred to them at the time) escorted me and my associate through this dark, gated parking area of bikes, and into an outdoor/indoor Clubhouse of Club Members and their Old Ladies. I was in their sacred sanctuary and felt the sacredness of it all, instantly. Sonny came up to me and said "you're late".  I had no answer except, "I know, I'm sorry, it won't happen again". And it never happened again! That night I felt the heaviness of what I was taking on, this world was intense, and I better be ready to make this film.  I learned a valuable lesson to never wait on someone when your meeting Sonny or a Club Member. I also came up with a very cool scene about time(from that night) and wrote it into the movie -- with the Bosnians.    

 

 THOR:

 

Q 5. I see this movie as a huge step into what the Club life is and reality of a code of ethics that Club members carry, where they live and die for it and each other, decide in honest what is the best course of action in a bad situation, and stand for it in their communities as really the Brothers, Bikers, 1%rs, and Men not Outlaws as seen by the general population. Do you see this as a beginning of something big? I do.

 

Jeff:

 

I look at this film, Dead In 5 Heartbeats, as an allegorical story for the culture. Something that may never happen again, and probably won't.  Motorcycle Clubs coming together, on the street literally, making this film for the culture itself, from the culture itself. Not knowing if it's going to work, not caring what the so-called public will think of it, but caring about what they'll think about it. Taking a risk to portray themselves as themselves. "Meaning" that connects to the culture but also universally, to all independents, when explored closely. It's a story within a story, and anytime you create two stories out of portraying one, you've got something worth watching for everyone. Biker or Non Biker. So yes, I do... over time.

 

THOR:

 

Q6. What is your next project like with Sonny, for I heard you are doing his life story, from another of his books? (That I read, studied would be a better word.)

Jeff:

 

Yes, I'm co-writing his life story, Hell's Angel, with Rob Weiss(Entourage) for Fox 2000. All I can say about this project right now is, that, I'm honored to be a part of it and hope the Biker Gods are with us. This is a story that needs to be told for many reasons that connect us to our independent roots as a nation.

 

THOR:

 

Q7. Are You coming to Eugene/Springfield Oregon for a Showing of 'Dead in 5 Heartbeats' ?

 

Jeff:

 

We toured the film last summer but you never know... we shot this in 3D and hope to do a theatrical tour again. This time in 3D. I think it will be very cool. We'll put Eugene on the list. It probably won't be for a year or so... but I do see it happening.

 

THOR:

 

I won't even ask if Sonny would come..  or did I?

 

Jeff:

 

You never know...

 

THOR:

 

I would love to get shook out my seat by some Bikes on and off the screen.

 

Jeff:

 

In 3D you definitely will!

 

THOR:

 

I like to say to all the Clubs that honored Sonny Barger in this way that you got deep respect from me, and like your brothers around you, with THOR, that goes a long way.

 

I am honored by this Q & A with Jeff Santo Director of Sonny Barger's Dead in 5 Heartbeats

www.deadin5heartbeats.com

 

THOR from The Eye of THOR

2nd Memorial at Washington Jefferson Park Eugene Oregon

 

Kitty Piercy our Mayor,                                                                     December’ 13 2008

 

I am again raising the memorial for those homeless, alcohol, and drug related deaths that have occurred over the past year. I feel a reflection of the lives lost which often go un-seen and un-herd will be a continual wake up call for this city. The death of members of our community is a direct reflection of the breakdown in our neighborhoods’ and social structure. I believe that Eugene has not traveled so far from the strong community values and beliefs, which are so important, that it cannot heal these wounds. I truly believe us as individuals and collectively can and will make a difference. I am proud to be a positive part, a hopeful participant in this change. I am also very happy to have a person as compassionate and motivated as you, as our Mayor.

 

This year, I will be doing the dedication on January 1^st, so as to be a direct reflection of those who did not make it to the next year. I invite you to stand with us at 2:00 PM for the dedication. I have invited others in the community as well.

 

God Bless,

Chef John Arthur Ernst aka “THOR”

Elisa

 She was three feet tall or four feet depending which leg you measured. She would wheel into the dining hall every day and sit alone. We soon became friends, and sat together every day for a bit. She was shaped like a sack of corn from the barn, one arm working long and normal but abnormal considering the rest of her body rebelled. Her other hand was smaller. I was new and decided to sit with her, why because no one else would. Soon Eric who himself was not socially accepted also sat with her. We would act a fool and get the food coming out of her mouth.  At first she covered her over sized mouth with her hand trying to cover the food stuck to her massive teeth covered with braces to cover her smile as food came spewing out then after she saw we were just her fiends she laughed. Soon we were "her' friends, Eric and I. She often smelled like a hospital, she lived in one, back in the 80's they had been cutting on her for years, lots of pieces were gone, or restructured. She laughed so hard. She had long flowing hair kind of like twisted tin straw, it was pretty. She was so wise. It was her who made us her friends for she was an untarnished soul, she just wanted light, life. I said once it was one of the better things "I" did at the ROCK, and I hold by that, but now I see so much more about, who she was. Her visits with us started to stop, slowly. We knew something was wrong, but we were so young.  She one day came in after an argument. The argument was that she was ill, and she needed to stay home. Eric never really knew but I did. She fought to come to school to see us, Eric and I. Her color changed and she wore make-up to cover it. The liver, her dialysis, everything was failing, and she came to see us. Her color changed, gray green, it would get worse while we sat. Her color changed, gray green, it would get worse while we sat. and she wore make-up to cover it. We gave her something we gave her life like she had never seen, for a few months she was a normal teenager if not just for a few minutes each day. Soon her visits would only come once and a while. She would do one class, lunch and go. One day she stopped. We knew. I did. This is for all like Elisa, all who suffer and then create such light as they pass, I have been honored to know a few in my life, Elisa, Julie Ann, others, such light.

THOR     

Eugene Marathon 2014 26.2 Miles "The Run'

"Start 6:00 AM!"

Ten the night before the race one more hurdle. I called a taxi, for the third time this time saying, "Yeah, Jerry I need that ride." He drove slow and easy in the dawn I talked to him before hand about my handicap and we made our way from Springfield to Eugene Marathon 2014. He talked for a little while until I told him I had to concentrate, until the race and my body was already rebelling against the ride, it wanted to needed to run. He said, "Where should I drop you?"

'ASAP' was my answer, we pulled over and the meter said 15.50$ He turned and said 13.50$"

 I said the meter says 15.50$ he gave me back 6.50$ in change and said, "Good Luck" as we stopped. No sooner the taxi come to a stop I spring out and begin bouncing up and down for  second  I was in A Corral wearing full seats, with Chef John aka THOR H/C with a Lightning Bolt for the slash mark. I can never get cold, then muscle rebellion. They sky was painted with sweeps of long pinks and light clear blues as the mist raised, mixed with bright white swashes of clouds as they to seemed to want to brighten the sky; I marveled, "What a ceiling painted for our run." I even made a short announcement to a tell few around me about my condition and keep bouncing back and forth.  "Bang." We were off, well they were; I paused in back to create my first block of space behind me. I could fall at any minute while running first five miles and knew it, it happened a few times, and I would be off on the side and get right back up always saying quick as I could, "Go, Run. I'm Okay!"  I try to caution people but that was making it even harder, so I just ran and kept to the side but still with general  group, a little too spectators  close for first one dog, went for me, but the owner pulled the dog quickly away. I ran, the sound of the start of a long race is breath, all you hear is breath in all shapes and colors echoes in sound, and the beat of feet upon the road none stop. I grunt growl, talk and make quite a bit of noise at times in the beginning for my legs are still learning to run again not on purpose and I try to keep it down.  I passed another spectator and cheerers holding cards, She had a card with a Big dog on a leash, the attack it was fast, I was faster and the Dog took the leash almost from the owner, I dove feeling the dog breath and little dog wet/slobber hitting my arm, into main traffic was the only place that dog would have had me for it lunged far beyond were I was running. "Dog fights and race' . No thanks.. I was instantly down hard on my left arm, cover and blows started as several people piled on.  It was  episode that took me for 5 sec, looking like a "Seizure" (Is NOT!) and many hands reached. I again said, "Go, Run!" I will be fine. I was up and hat in hand hobbling then finally into jog again a little blood  from my arm trickling for a few minutes, and I mentally gave myself a note. Cool, now we are running.  We wound around my old neighborhood by the paths I used to run as a student at Lane Community College in Amazon Park, uphill gentle grade for a while.  I was happy when I crossed the 7 mile mark and knew most of my dysfunction was worked out with a few attacks and now I could run. I ran and kept good pace till the bridge split, and into Springfield and back out, I had a monster leg cramp hit. The one where you're like "No, No" I lay back to get it out and "Waaaah" it was bad, from foot to back knots in calve, thigh, and yep all at once, but it began to stop. A SPD decided he wanted to help, and we did not see eye to eye on whether I should get up, and keep running, but I did after yelling at the little fellow. He ticked me off, Once he saw he knew me said "I know you." and pushed me back down. bla bla bla A loud "Get your hands of me!" while I got back up and began to run as he grabbed me to pull me back down. I ran the rest way out of Springfield and was happy to, it was cool I was 1 -2 miles from home, on the loop flashing peace signs at people every once and a while, then back stretch started a place I had never gone over 15 miles. it was then this..

FB post KMTR Marathon  

       It is the pounding of feet you here most, music, people talking, me to myself, "Relax' I fall as I do and running a pack is tricky so a few more drops, but I am up and going so fast. I would often be around the same groups. the "Ballooners", and their herd, this time that time. One lady kept coming up next to me. I think there were a few more who watched me, some speed up a little because I struggle pretty hard and the noise is not welcome. I understand, I stay in gaps. The few who watched me in the first half when my speed and training was keeping me at 6-7 min miles. It was one lady, sister with long dreads who just said a few word's to me. Words that count when in the back 15 my legs wanted to quite, not due to tire but due to H/C. "You trained for this." You can do this." It meant the world you see of my legs go out totally I have a spasm so bad and violent it would have left me far from home in a bad situation. Her words.. I made those five miles and looked at the new ponds, the roses, the banks of the Willamette, the Great Gray Heron alone on his log, the young Eagles playing in the sky and Ducks of course. The water as it raged over the lower rocks. I has been so long since my life on the river. You see that was the last thing she said to me, "Enjoy your run." That really was the most important. THOR http://theeyeofthor.blogspot.com/.../eugene-marathon-2014... 

I carried that with me as I passed the elderly ladies, roses, homes, and smiled around the new delta pounds and finally back to the bike path. I was heavy my legs not wanting to go. I had to walk, then go again. I could not stop too long or get stuck. I think it was those power shots, my fuel is whole foods, baked lemon Old Bay Salmon dinner, fresh Sour dough bread with toasted Sunflower and cashew, Himalayan raspberry compote. I turned the corner and ran for the home stretch  along the very paths I lived on, my isle land hidden from view my place of residence during the summer of 05' with its own little story like Walden. I stopped to special fuel of my own and downed two small packages if Himalayan pink salt on the back 20, the guy at one water station looked at me strange until I said what it was I had stuffed in my sock.  I kept going past Mona's house where a band was setting up, past the duck ponds and then hooked up with a guy on a bike playing the "Rocky Theme Song" under Skinner Butte. I picked up pace, feeling it, putting a few punches in for I had trained for 2 weeks to "Rocky" as it played a few weeks ago on T.V., punching the bag and adding weights after training at Cross Fit Gym Springfield with Daniel. We raced together, I had the Eye of THOR. I dropped pace for a little timing it just right this time, and took the last mile steady then at 1/4 mile I went into 3rd gear, in 2012 my 1/2 marathon I timed it wrong and ran out, I hit my stride and counted on my finders, if you were watching you see my fingers count down, then I hit it pulling my 3rd gear out, and moving by the time the stand, people, the finish line lay ahead. A photographer caught a good pic line of this, you see my face strain and then in the next shot I am knifing the air with my hands with both feet well off the ground.

Why Did I run?

I ran for my Momz both & Dad, Wayne, Uncle David & Aunt Cathy, Evan, Adam, Amy, Alicia, Ashton.

I ran for those who thought they could not do something, handicapped or not.

I ran to show people that you can do anything.

I ran for my friends at Hope Community Pre-School and the kids who I Play "Whoop Whoop" in the field on my hill train days as they all line the fence and laugh.

I run for all the kids on my block who I play with, and that I make airplanes for, for all the kids on the 4th of July out in countless numbers with every assortment of Sparkly fun in tow for hours.   

I run for my neighbors for we have a neighborhood, and they are the best and watch over me, and have made me a part of the community.

I run for Dorothy my next door neighbor who would knock on my door to make sure I was okay, she is 87 a polio survivor and lifelong Oregon resident .

I run for every person who is down, out, hard times, think your done, and say, "Never give Up."

I run for friends far away from the "Rock" and I run for "Rocky" John, Jen. Cali, Luel, George, Eric, Elisa, Julie, Ann, Stephanie, Andy, the others...

I run to see some day my two kids, David W. & Megan @,& Sara's family, Scott, Alicia.

I run for those dead, New York, Papa Bear, Crazy Steve, Bucket, Egan, Carter who designed my book cover  and the countless names of friends dead or up gone up state, in an underground "War", or even worse on one of my Memorials, gone forever now just a number listed with all the others.

I run for Sonny Barger to Nelson Mandela , Black Panthers to Hells Angels, blood, Truth, Loyalty, Honor.

I run for Elders & my hommies on lock down, Boogie, Cesar, John, Loni, Garret, B Ben, Goat, and the ones past who out doing right with might, K Dog & daughter, Jimmy and his boy, All my kids off the street, Erin, Shorty, Liz, Devin, DJ, with kids of their own who all call me" Uncle THOR". (I love being the favorite uncle >"Iol it quacks me up!)  

I run so they all can be inspired.

I run on inspiration.

I run for Kitty Piercy & Christine Lundberg, so many in high places, who have helped me, Bob S, all the support staff making magic happen.

I run for Dr. Macha and his whole tem at Slocum, respect has no price until it is given then it is priceless I, Dentist Alison Cadaraet , who has treated me with deep compassion, for Dr. Lin the Skeptic who has watched it all and told the truth. For the ALL the EMS GUYS, "I DID it! Told ya!" still got all them stickers from 4th July.. for the kids..

I run for all the staff, student, at Lane Community College, Brian, Clive, Chris, Julie, Joe, Support staff CML, Katheline, Mark,,,  David, Siri, 'the shapers' Coach, Rec staff, all my fellow student friends. Titan Power 2011'

I run for this beautiful valley we all live in and share; for where else can you see such sights in the middle of a two cites, rose gardens, hotels, with terraces, loons swooping and diving, the Willamette river, a place set between two mountains one lovely gem of a valley, for me from a big city this is one place, one giant run through the Emerald Valley, painted with the grandeur of flowers hippies making everything grow, fruit trees apple, pear, plum, so much life. packed into one run, one valley, our valley of Eugene And Springfield.

I run to make that spark of inspiration a fire.

I run to bring a Strom to Light up the Skies and let Thunder Roll>>>.         

I run for the kids, always in the end.

Chef John aka THOR