All with Professionalism

May 26, 2017

My dear friends at the (name) Hotel,

I have seen your ad on CraigsList and believe you may be interested in my services. I have nearly eighteen years as a licensed security officer in the state of California. Across my time in uniformed protection I have worked in positions of all types ranging from industrial plants to residential locations.

Furthermore, I understand the need to treat every person as a potential client or in your case guessed, and I know how to address disorderly persons. I have had extensive experience with emergency medical calls and dealing directly with LAPD. In addition, I have had the experience of giving testimony in court and having my reports used as evidence.

I spent nearly four years in hospitality at a homeless shelter, but had experience with hotels dating back to the nineties. I can assure you that there is very little in the world of security that I haven’t come into contact with, and I’ve learned to address it all with professionalism and a calm demeanor.

Have a good day,

Richard Leland Neal

"One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" by Dr. Seuss Book Review

"One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" by Dr. Seuss is one of

the master of children's books best known titles. This is a book that features counting and colors along with a general learning experience for the children wrapped in the Dr. Seuss stile. In addition, there are comparisons like fat and thin. 

Children love Dr. Seuss and I loved this book as a kid. I would think your child will spend a good many hours reading these fun pages until your book, like the one I had as a kid, turns to dust.

Who should read this book? Everyone.

Books read: 192 of 5000

Thief and Patron

I Harden Myself

4^th December 2018

Dear Cassi,

Another year has passed, and I harden myself to the fight ahead. Every year I do this and every year I fail as badly as the last with my life looking no better than it did a year ago.

My home is under siege by Pony Girl hoping to have me gone so she can have my part. My neighbors are ready to kill more of my animals, and Pickle still refuses to unload the dishwasher. Things are looking bad.

By the New Year I’ll have two workstations (I hope), and be able to do almost everything I do on my drafting desk that I do on my main desk. If that works out this should be a year for getting things done.

I will have the drafting desk and the main work station. Then I will have the laptop in the studio. I have computers, computers, and more computers to work with but it feels like the lack of more than one me is the problem.

Well, this is depression. Depression is like swimming upstream in a river as cold and relentless as time and never being able to find safe harbor. I swim because if I stop and drowned or fall back so here I swim.

Keep your head above water, little sister,

Richard Leland Neal

Generator Rex: Leader of the Pack by Jason Gots

Generator Rex: Leader of the Pack by Jason Gots is rated as a first

to third grade reading book derived from the Generator Rex Toonami cartoon. This is a book for the young science fiction lover and features something of a violent story line for that age as well as simplified  information making it hard to understand unless you've seen the cartoon. 

Then, I've never seen the cartoon so it could be just as had to understand. All and all, this is a book that is designed to get fans of the cartoon pumped for reading and if the cartoon really speaks to children then the book will as well. 

Who should read this book: Fans of Generator Rex

Books read: 192 of 5000

Computer Truth - Will Ferrell

 

A Pocket for Corduroy by Don Freeman

"A Pocket for Corduroy" by Don Freeman is another story about

the lovable bear Corduroy and his search for a pocket. Corduroy notices for the first time that Sarah, his owner, has pockets, and he wants one for himself. This leads to Corduroy spending a night in the laundry.

This is a fun adventure designed to inform children that if they want something they should ask. 

This is a lovely story, and makes a great addition to bedtime. I would say the cast is divers, and the story is fun. 

Who should read this book? Anyone.

Books read: 191 of 5000

The Value of My Beloved Sneak

14^th April 2018

 

My dear friends and cat lovers,

I am writing for assistance in pricing a Bi color Greek Aegean in preparation for filing a damages lawsuit against Animal Control who destroyed a report I submitted regarding a man who had admitted to killing cats on my street. He has killed again.

The Aegean in question was a therapy animal for my mentally ill (Pickle). His mental illness prevents us from keeping our cats in. No matter what I do he will let them out. This would not have saved the other animals killed by the man on my street. I have known him for my whole life, and I had to change the locks on my home to keep him out.

Before this I had an indoor outdoor cat that lived to the age of twenty five. My home was a safe place for cats until this man lost his fool mind, ran around the street with is tail hanging out, and decided I had no right to keep pets.

To add to the horror of this man’s actions, he stated to me that he shot cats with a twenty two caliber rifle when sitting on his couch and pointing into his back yard. This would mean that he was pointing his firearm at the elementary school I attended as a boy.  

One stray shot, my friends, and this man may take the life of a child, but law

enforcement has responded in a lackluster manner to my reports. I’m hoping that making the agency in question pay for their negligence will change things. If this man where in prison my cat would be alive and those children would be safe.

You may call me negligent for permitting my cats to see the outside. I’ve had plenty tell me that I am, but this man will keep shooting the feral cats that roam my street. He will keep firing a gun at children. I’m sure none of us want to see a child or a cat harmed.

In any case, I am enclosing pictures of the animal in question. If any of you know someone who can help me it would be greatly appreciated.

Best wishes and purrs,

Richard Leland Neal

Books Worms Colors Purple by Sharon Gordon

Purple by Sharon Gordon is another in the Book Worms Colors

collection. Like all the books in this collection what you have here is a book that shows you a purple thing then gives the reader some instruction of what to do with that thing. "The grape is purple. Eat it." may sound like a just fine thing to say to a child. That is until they start eating grapes at the store because the book told them to do so. 

Who should read this book? Children having trouble naming the colors. 

Books read: 191 of 5000

Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! by Dr. Seuss Book Review

"Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now!" by Dr. Seuss is a

book listing all the ways one Marvin K. Mooney may leave the premises. As far as the books of Seuss go this one relies far more on funny images than it dose on a fun story line with the unseen narrator coming up with all kinds of odd ways of locomotion.  The point of this book feels like that it exists because books are a good thing and children should have many of them.

I can get behind that. 

Who should read this book: Everyone.

Books read 190 of 5000

Symbol Art by Leonard Everett Fisher

"Symbol Art" by Leonard Everett Fisher was in the children's book

section of my local library. I don't know why, because there is very little in this book for children.  Past that it is a survey of symbology and the way symbols have advanced communication and technology.

This book is in no way a one time read and in fact I would suggest taking notes. This really isn't a topic for children unless they have a report to write.

Who should read this book: Those who want to learn about symbols. 

Books read: 189 of 5000

Fur Babies at the Vet

Fat Old Jack and Dana sit on my chest.
15th January 2018

8^th April 2018

Dear (Devium),

You’ll be happy to know that fat old Jack is in very good health. I took the big black cat to the vet this week, along with your little Calico Dana, and had them both looked at. Dana was a pain to get into the cat carrier, I didn’t use yours, and she ran about the house until I cornered her. Jack, well, Jack just sat there without a care in the world until the car started moving then they both cried until I got them into the examination room.

In the car one of them peed on the pad in the carrier, and I had to get a new one at the vet. I think it was Dana and I think she left a present on the way home as well. I really need to clean up my cat carriers now. So nasty.

In any case, Jack got his blood drawn because he was old, and they said he was doing very well for his age. The doctor looked at his silky fur and felt its softness and commented that he was surprised the cat was that old. He told me that he wished all the cats he looked at were as well behaved as fat old Jack.

Dana was a trifle as it was hard to way and hold her. We found that she had blood in her intestines, and I have been given medications to calm her because they vet thought it was the stress of losing you that made her sick. Dana being so skittish of an animal this is probably true.

Dana is rarely far from me when I’m at home, and she has made a point of sleeping in the crook of my neck when I’m on the computer. She was a little standoffish after the vet for a few hours but Jack made a point to spend some time with me. He’s normally spending time with Pickle to be honest.

Your fur babies are doing well, and I hope you are too,

Richard Leland Neal

"Olivia and the Babies" by Jodie Shepherd Book Review

I'm reasonably sure that "Olivia and the Babies" by Jodie Shepherd

is part of a much larger group of books, but this is the first I've seen. This is what i get for going to the library and just dumping books in a bag. 

In any case, this is the story of a pig who wants to be a mommy so she gets pets and acts like they are her babies. I know this is a fun story showing children at play here, but it does downplay motherhood and the responsibilities there of. Also this book may get your child to want to get a pet or two. 

Who should read this book: People who want their kids to baby their pets. 

Books read: 188 of 5000

Quality Assurance Clerk

27^th October 2016

My Dear Friends,

I take interest in your position as a “Quality Assurance Clerk” as I have a BA in Psychology and a background in Uniformed Security where my duties were to observe and report. For eighteen years I have been assessing and reporting on situations from the mundane to the inexplicable.  I understand the need to report what I see rather than to make assumptions, and I understand the fallibility of human memory and the extreme need to take adequate notes.

Moreover, I have spent four years working with the homeless who have mental issues, and I have a good understanding of the needs of mental health clients. I worked with violent cases, talked clients down from suicide, and addressed health issues like bedbugs and scabies. 

If there is a problem you’re looking for I should have no trouble finding it and addressing or reporting its nature.

Best,

Richard Leland Neal

"Corduroy" by Don Freeman

"Corduroy" by Don Freeman is a book about a living teddy bear

who wants to be part of a family and not live in a store any longer.  Someone mentions that he is old and missing a button so he gets up at night and searches for his missing button. 

Corduroy is a bear with a childlike mind and a curiosity to match. This is a fun story with a divers cast that will ti a child's imagination. The visuals remind me of the art work of the early 20th century America with a definite older vibe.

Who should read this book? Everyone

Books read: 187 of 5000

Angelina and the Royal Wedding by Katharine Holabird

"Angelina and the Royal Wedding" by Katharine Holabird is the

story of Angelina the mouse who lives in mouse-land and is invited to be a flower girl at the royal mouse wedding. 

This is one of those stories that is just, well, what we in a backwards time called girly. There are flowers, weddings, and fancy clothes to tickle the imagination. That is not to say this story will only appeal to girls. I think Angelina's little brother is a great character. 

Who should read this book: Young children. 

Books read: 186 of 5000

'Seals' by Ron Hirschi Book Review

'Seals' by Ron Hirschi is a book about those lovely dog mermaids

we call seals. This book is full of interesting information facts all be it in a dry manner that will only draw you in if you are interested in the subject. I mean, this is a textbook and textbooks are dray as they are designed to inform not entertain. 

There is some blood in this book and a picture of a polar bear eating a seal. Thus the book may not be for the squeamish.

Who should read this book? Folks who want to learn about seals.

Books read: 185 of 5000

Jolly Rubino

5^th June 2015

Dear Cassi,

As I move through the mess that is my home I am sometimes reminded of a ship called the Jolly Rubino. It was a cargo craft hauling chemicals when it caught fire and burnt. The ship was such a disaster that salvage crews refused the normal ‘no cure no pay’ and opted for a daily compensation for doing what they could to save the environment.

The ship burnt so hot that when crew tried to rescue it their boots melted. In the end they had to drain the ship of oil, and let it burn itself out. Then they offloaded the chemicals and blew the ship to hell. This left the hulk open to the elements and the waves would eventually break it apart. Nature would take it back.

Is this the future of the rotting hulk that is my home? Will one day bulldozers need to smash it to bits and leave nothing of the old structure? I don’t know, Cassi, but what I do know is that whatever is going to happen is a long way off and hard work is between me and that moment.

I have so much to do and so little time.

Keep yourself, little sister,

Richard Leland Neal

Fantastic! Wow! and Unreal! :a Book about Interjections and Conjunctions by Ruth Heller

"Fantastic! Wow! and Unreal! :a Book about Interjections and

Conjunctions" by Ruth Heller is an early learning book for the English language told in fantastic color and forced rime with a few optical illusions added in.

It's a wonderful idea but sadly it falls rather short of the mark being hard to understand. These are abstract concepts that parents and children struggle with. If you have a strong command of this topic this book will help you teach your child, but if your understanding is lacking it will only confuse you.

Who should read this book? Teachers to children

Books read: 184 of 5000

Bookworms Colors Blue by Sharon Gordon

The Bookworms Colors books by Sharon Gordon are a very

rudimentary look at the color designed to help children identify the varying wavelengths of light. 

These books can't have much to them because the children they are written for are very young and having difficulties with the idea of color. 

'Blue' is no exception to the rule, and it is a very short book to read.

Who should read this book: Very young children.

Books read: 183 of 5000

Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten by Candice Ransom Book Review

Amanda Panda Quits Kindergarten by Candice Ransom is the story

of an anthropomorphic Giant Panda. On this Panda's first day of school things don't turn out the way she hoped and so she decided to quit and move to a higher grade. 

Well, one can imagine how that worked out but the moral of this book is that we should never let our expectations rule our lives, and always find the best in every situation. 

Now this is a big book with bright colors and interesting but child like artwork. I would even say it was done with markers. It can be a bedtime read but the colors are on the bright side. 

Who should read this book? People who get hung up on expectations. 

Books read: 182 of 5000

We're Going on a Bear Hunt By Micheal Rosen and Helen Oxenbury

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt" By Micheal Rosen and Helen

Oxenbury is a similar story to other books I've read with the repetitious story about a family looking for something. The group encounters a number of obstacles that they need to move through.

This is a fun story best read in the early parts of the day to start the giggles of life.  The repetitive words will help your child read with you and the book is large enough for story time.

Who should read this book: Anyone

Books read: 181 of 5000

Letters to Agents

23^rd August 2017

My Dear Friends at Management,

 I am a screenwriter, playwright, and novelist so I am pleased to find a company that would work with all three. I’ve been published in the ‘Pioneer Artistic Review’ twice. I have sold a script to Absurd TV and was then contracted and have completed rewriting a script purchased from another author for the same company.

I am currently looking to market a script called ‘Walker in the Trees’ which is something of a horror/thriller designed to be a lower budget theatrical release.  I have also written the novel to this film. ‘Walker in the Trees’ centers around Karl a man haunted by the ghost of his murdered sister.  In the film he has hunted down her killers and they become the primary victims of the story.  This film earned me an A+ in Screenwriting at Cal State University Fullerton.

I have two full length plays that have done well in cold reads, I am working on another novel, and have written another film in the romantic comedy range.  Writing is what I love and I’m not all that picky about what I’m writing.

Thank you for your time,

Richard Leland Neal

23^rd August 2017

Mr. (agent),

I am currently seeking to market a Novel and screenplay called ‘Walker in the Trees’. This is a thriller novel not unlike the work of Stephen King in its supernatural nature and would be marketed primarily to men between 18 and 35 but has elements of LGBT and stronger female characters.  The novels primary distinction is that through much of the second act it focuses on the villains as they are caught between their own illegal activities and an attacking force.  

As an author I have been published in the ‘Pioneer artistic Review’ and sold a script to Absurd TV. I was also contracted by Absurd TV to rewrite a short film written by another author. I wrote ‘Walker in the Trees’ because I was told as a film it would be easy to market by a college professor. I then rewrote it as a novel because copious sources have stated that a novel is far easier to market.

Thank you for your time,

Richard Leland Neal

Robert Louis Stevenson's 'The Moon' Pictures by Tracey Pearson

Robert Louis Stevenson's 'The Moon' Pictures by Tracey Pearson is

a use of the poem 'The Moon' by Robert Louis Stevenson set to the pictures drawn by Tracey Pearson. 

The pictures are modern and full color with a dark semi realistic esthetic. Further, the colors and night theme make this a great book for bedtime reading. It's not going to give you nightmares. 

Who should read this book? anyone.

Books read: 180 of 5000

Things that Bean Touched

7^th November 2018

Dear Party People,

I was on my way home from the night shift last week, and I left my radio on from the night before. What should I hear but Kevin and Bean talking about Bean eating strange things with a knife and fork. I'll grant you that I've gotten half a slice of pizza down with a knife and fork before switching to my hands, and I didn't hear what the listeners had to say, but it was clear by the time I got home that the lot of you had missed the big point.

It's not like you not wanting to eat with your hands. It's that no one in their right mind, or Bean's mind, would want to eat with Bean's hands. Not even Bean. Just think about this for a second. If you had to be tied up and have a member of the morning crew feed you with their hands who would you choose? How many of you would eat food Bean touched?

Think of where those hands have been. What parts of goats, dogs, or any other animal has Bean touched, and no matter how much he washes his hands he can't wash the Bean off. Even Bean knows how disgusting Bean is and how wrong it would be for Bean to touch food.

After all, didn't bean choose Radiohead's 'Creep' as the song at his wedding. Or was that Kevin? It's still so hard to tell you two apart. That's not the point. The point is that no food should ever be so insulted as to be touched by a creep the likes of Bean.

I would think that would have been obvious,

Richard from Whittier

"Zoo Animals in the Wild: Giant Panda" by Jinny Johnson

"Zoo Animals in the Wild: Giant Panda" by Jinny Johnson is a

book about Giant Pandas. I should tell you something you don't know. Okay, if you're going to talk about giant pandas in a children's books you should spend a good amount of time with red pandas because they are adorable and the reason we call them giant pandas. 

Some people don't know that there are two kinds of panda in the world. I myself didn't know until I was in my thirties. 

Anyway, this is a passable book on the giant panda and it has a good deal of information but nothing that I haven't seen before, as I have read on the subject. 

Who should read this book? Anyone

Books read: 179 of 5000

Iris and Walter and the Field Trip by Elissa Haden Guest Book Review

"Iris and Walter and the Field Trip" by Elissa Haden Guest is a

book about children who go to an aquarium and one get's lost. This is a story about losing and finding people in the real world. It comes with the idea of paying attention and keeping your eye on what's important. 

The art style is whimsical with overlapping and bleeding colors that failed to stay within the lines. This is the artwork that a child will see and feel that imperfections aren't the end of the world. 

Who should read this book?  Everyone

Books read: 178 of 5000

"Astro the Steller Sea Lion" by Jeanne Walker Harvey Book Review

"Astro the Steller Sea Lion" by Jeanne Walker Harvey is the biography of a Steller Sea Lion found at such an age that he could never be returned to the wild. This is a story with sad and happy moments that get us to understand these noble creatures. 

All and all I found this to be an interesting narrative with a high educational value. The images appear to be altered from real life or close examinations of real life images. 

In addition, a part of the proceeds from this book will go to the welfare of these animals. 

Who should read this book: Everyone

Books read: 177 of 5000

A Man so Broken as I

6^th January 2017

Dear Cassi,

A nimbus appears around every light when I look through my left eye. This is my body’s way of saying that I haven’t had enough water to keep the toxins out of my blood. I haven’t strained myself enough to justify this problem, but it came up anyway.

Over the last few days I’ve been pushing the consumption of vegetables. Pickle has been picky about that and I spent the last half of the day cleaning out the crap in my work room. There was cat spore that had been left from the time of my last litter of kittens more than a year ago.

I used the broom to sweep up the old cat litter and the smell of urine filled the air. This is depression. This is the look of a man so broken as I, and a man looking to change things. I have my better days like this one when I clean things up, and my bad days where I can’t get out of bed.

I’m told the Japanese have a tradition of filling in cracks in broken things with gold because the history makes them more valuable. I’m not sure you can do that with my home or my life for that matter. Then again if history makes a thing more valuable than I am worth more than gold and so are you.

Stay golden, little sister,

Richard Leland Neal

"Berenstain's A Book" by Stan & Jan Berenstain

"Berenstain's A Book" by Stan & Jan Berenstain is a book with a

lot of words starting with 'A'. It follows a progression of angry ants advancing over many different objects. 

This is a solid book in most respects, and if your a fan of the Berenstain Bears it really has to be a must read. However, if you're a fan of the books then how can learning what an 'A' is be useful? 

Further along that line, the book mentions something called and Angleworm. Now I looked it up and an angleworm is a worm used for fishing. It's a shortening of angler's worm. However, the worm in question was not on a hook or used to catch a fish.  

This book is unremarkable and pandering to fans. If you're a fan go for it, and if not then leave it pass. 

Who should read this book? Berenstain fans 

Books read: 176 of 5000

All in Your Head

4^th January 2017

Dear Cassi,

I may have mention a few times that the old man refused to take me to the doctor when I was in high school. This is to say that he wouldn’t take me to the doctor for mental health reasons. He did take me in for a ‘sports physical’ a few times and he even once pointed to this to say that I was fine.

The doctor ordered a blood test that the old man wouldn’t get off his ass to drive me to so I feel his argument is rather hollow. He went against doctor’s orders there at very least. 

I remember the old man said “it’s all in your head” as if that meant it wasn’t real. A brain tumor is all in your head but mental illness is in your head, in the tissues of your heart, and in every part of your body. Further, weather the problem is in your head or in your foot there is no reason to deny your child treatment.

That was Yule for you. He would first laugh at my problems, and when they didn’t go away he would yell at me over them, but the old man would never do anything to help.  If I’m to get anywhere in life I need to get there on my own.

No one helps Richard Leland Neal. I am a man beyond help and beyond asking for help. I must accept that part of my life.

Ego Solus,

Richard Leland Neal