Holy Crap!

I made it to section 3 of Patrick Wolff's "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Chess [3rd edition]."

Chess is nothing like war, at least in the modern sense. Jennifer Shahade suggests that the game is very feminine in her book, "Chess Bitch." Fair play. Equal sides. Equality and fair play are very feminine ideas. Warfare in the modern sense is use of overwhelming against a weakened opponent.

I finally got through the king hunt example and variations and all the exercises at the end of the Tactics section, chapter 8. Mind you, it wasn't that difficult. It has just been my own psychological barrier in getting myself there.

There are many games in life that help as a guide through life. Chess is one of them, the one I enjoy the most. The one I want to get a good grip on again and have fun with (I just noticed a ladybug crawling around on our dining room table as I write this about 2:15 in the morning).

Section 3 of the Complete Idiot's guide to Chess is "Strategy." I learned that there are three sections to the game; the opening, the middle, and the endgame. I am learning about the opening and gaining a new understanding of what is needed and expected at the beginning.

This makes me think of Shusli and I working toward buying a house. We figured out the things we need to do. I personally need to clean up my credit. After months of work and gaining the right position, we should be done with our opening salvo in this month. Then comes t middle game, shopping. Then comes the endgame, purchasing.

I found an audio copy of "The Illiad" by Homer. In this book, I found fine examples of manhood. This war was something like chess as the adversaries were rather equal, they fought on an even field with similar weapons, they were brave men who faced adversaries stronger or as strong as well as weaker. They felt pain and anguish like men. They behaved like men behaving like children. I learned more about being a man from this book than I have from the examples I had growing up. No, I do not feel a desire to go out and kill my enemy, I feel the desire to face everyday with a sense of bravery. Ain't nothin' that big of a deal that I can't handle it in a good way.

"African Queen" was a good example for me as well on how to behave as a man. Treat your equals kindly and with respect. Be bold, daring, and brave together. Face your challenges helping each other.

I feel like I am making the opening moves into the rest of my life.