"One Train Later" by Andy Summers

In addition to the "ADD" affliction mentioned in an earlier post I think I may have a tiny bit of obsessive-compulsive behavior as well.  I will go through stages when I "obsess" on a certain topic.  The most recent one has been the rock group the Police.  At the height of their success in the period 1980-1983 I was focused on my girlfriend, graduating from college, getting that first job and the early years of being married (to previously-mentioned girlfriend).  I was certainly aware of the Police through their big hits and their MTV videos but I can't say I was a big fan.  I'm not sure what kicked off the most recent interest, perhaps it was seeing one of those old videos, but in any event I started to look at them a little more closer; watching concert footage from the early 80s, footage from their reunion tour in the mid-2000's and various interviews they gave over the years.  All of that led me to this book, written by the lead guitarist.  It's the story of Andy Summers life growing up in Britain, getting involved in the music scene there, his struggles pre-Police, meeting Sting and Stuart Copeland, joining the band, and their enormous success.  He also details the growing tensions within the band and Sting's growing dominance over the decisions on what material would appear on the albums, but it's done in a non-accusing way.  It's not a gossip memoir, it was simply a "this is what happened".  This book was released prior to their reunion tour, so there's a "we never got closure" feeling at the end.  As Andy points out they were not "over the hill", they were not on their way out, Sting simply wanted to go off on his own so he did after a hugely successful tour in 1983 (I believe that Andy got his "closure" in the reunion tour, one of the most successful tours ever).  It's a very entertaining book written by an obviously talented individual (he's also a very skilled photographer) and I highly recommend it.  The part I liked best was what happened between him and his second wife.  They were married just prior to him joining the Police and they had a baby girl.  But the demands of being in the band...the tours to build their name recognition prior to their big success..and then the tours to promote their albums and meet the demands of their fans, put an understandable strain on the marriage.  He was away on tour all the time while she was a single mom.  Finally it reached the point where she couldn't deal with it anymore and divorced him.   In a recent interview he said the parting was on good terms, and they both agreed that it was important that he be allowed access to their daughter as she grew up.  That's exactly what happened, and by doing that the door between Andy and his ex-wife was left open a crack.  In 1986, three years after the Police break-up, four and a half years after their divorce, they reunited, remarried, had twin boys and moved to California.  And they've been together since.  A nice love story.

Gettysburg

Over the last two years I've had the opportunity to visit Gettysburg on several occasions.  This has given me the chance to explore the entire battlefield, including sections of it that most visitors don't see.  In addition I have been able to walk many parts of the battlefield at my leisure.  I've visited the various parts of the battlefield for both the historical interest I have in the battle and also to see all the various statues, monuments and markers in Gettysburg.  It was to see these markers that took me to the less visited areas that I mentioned above.
One of the most seldom-visited portions of the battlefield is Neill Avenue, also known as "Lost Lane".  Although it's only 600 or so yards from the Baltimore Pike it really feels like the middle of nowhere.  Although Lost Lane is national park grounds, it is surrounded by private property so it's important to stay between the marked areas for the national park property. Also it's best to go with a companion.  It IS isolated and trail is very rocky. If you're by yourself and have a fall you could be in a world of hurt (I don't think the cell phone reception out there is good either).  If you go however, you will see a portion of the battlefield that few others have seen, completely untouched by development.  I went with my buddy and after a couple of wrong turns we finally found it.  Believe it or not, there are actually four large monuments for the regiments posted there; 49th New York, 7th Maine, 43rd New York and 61st Pennsylvania.  I'm sure the story as to how these monuments were built in this location would be a story in itself.
In addition to visiting Lost Lane, I've walked along the old trolley path and then into Rose Woods to find the marker locating the spot where Captain Henry Fuller fell, I've walked along the horse trail to Slyder Farm to find the monuments for Companies E&H, Second US Sharpshooters and Company D, Second US Sharpshooters (which also has a great view of the ground leading to Devil's Den), I've walked up the reverse slope of Big Round Top to find the monument to the 118th Pennsylvania, I've walked along the trail between the Emmitsburg Road and the State of Virginia monument to see the monuments for the First Massachusetts (skirmish line) and Wisconsin sharpshooters, walked out into the fields of Pickett's Charge to find the location of the Bliss Farm, walked down a portion of Culp's Hill to find the advanced skirmish line marker for the 123rd New York, and I've walked between Hancock Avenue and the Codori farm to find the marker showing the location of where Colonel George Willard fell.  I've walked down the hill from Barlow's knoll into the woods alongside Rock Creek to find the marker showing the advance position of 45 soldiers from the 54th New York, saw the mural along Coster avenue and did a quick tour of the monuments and markers on "Jones Battalion Avenue".  I've also walked up Bushman Hill to see the monuments for the 5th New York Cavalry and Battery E, Fourth US Artillery, the markers to the 1st & 2nd Regiment, US Cavalry and Fifth US Cavalry off of Ridge Road.  I've walked to Willoughby Run to see the bridge abutments, and also saw Brockenbrough's Quarry, just west of McPherson's Ridge.
I've also walked the battlefield from the Eternal Peace monument down Doubleday Avenue (where I saw "General and Mrs Grant" checking into the B&B after touring the town), down Reynolds Avenue all the way to Fairfield Road.  I've done the walking tour of Seminary Ridge (in the snow), walked the grounds of Pickett's charge with my buddy (including a dramatic recreation of climbing the fence along Emmitsburg Road), walked up Little Round top, found the position marker for Company B of the 20th Maine, walked the length of Brenner's Hill and also toured the monuments and emplacements on Power's Hill.  I've also seen the monument to the 16th Pa Cavalry standing alone along Highland avenue and I walked down the McLean Farm Lane to find the advance marker for the 45th New York.  I've also walked down Culp's hill to see the large "sniper rocks" that the confederates and US soldiers hid behind when sniping at each other; toured Powers Hill to visit the monuments and markers there. I visited the hospital at the George Spangler farm, where Armistead passed away, and my friend and I walked along the horse path to the Spangler farm off Emittsburg Road. 

Gettysburg is a huge battlefield, too much to see in a weekend if you're interested in the details of the battle.   Going there several times has given me the chance to focus on portions of the battlefield each trip.