helping our neighbor with her restaurant is incredibly tiring. it's just she, the hubby, and i doing everything and today it got really busy. instead of doing my usual thing of washing dishes, i somehow got tagged to work the front -- taking orders, taking money, running credit cards, and answering the phone. i hadn't done that before and was nervous about it, especially since a number of people had to wait, and it takes awhile for things to cook and be put together.
yes, the stuff is very fresh, but people can get antsy. a couple of guys today were put out about my inexperience which was unnerving to me. i must be a lot more insecure than i thought. not that they said anything out of order, but dark looks, deep sighs, and whispered asides can be lethal. oh well, i guess. but i sure didn't like it.
how is it, do you suppose, that some people have the ability to say 'the hell with those types of people' and just blow it off without another thought? i'd like some of that, please.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Sunday, October 22, 2006
be brave
getting old is such an adventure. i look in the mirror and discover new wrinkles every day. i mean you always know they're coming but really, do they have to be so... umm, in your face?!
it's a little different for everyone, of course. i noticed small changes about four years ago, then things seemed to sort of just coast along, then wham!! the changes became more pronounced about a year ago and now they're all having some kind of race to an ill-defined finish line. or lines, actually i guess.
but definitely this is an adventure, i mean, how else can you look at it? some would call it a disaster, but that is depressing. some would say they haven't changed at all but that's living in fantasy-land. most of us just check out the mirror with a mixture of doom, macabre curiosity, and awe which, if we're lucky, gently turns into the acceptance that will carry us with grace and humor and dignity all the way to the end.
it's a little different for everyone, of course. i noticed small changes about four years ago, then things seemed to sort of just coast along, then wham!! the changes became more pronounced about a year ago and now they're all having some kind of race to an ill-defined finish line. or lines, actually i guess.
but definitely this is an adventure, i mean, how else can you look at it? some would call it a disaster, but that is depressing. some would say they haven't changed at all but that's living in fantasy-land. most of us just check out the mirror with a mixture of doom, macabre curiosity, and awe which, if we're lucky, gently turns into the acceptance that will carry us with grace and humor and dignity all the way to the end.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
vignette
Shurl hadn’t know her partner long. Well, she’d heard of him, his reputation anyway, for several years, but hadn’t met him until this assignment. So far he seemed to be an okay, hard-working guy. She supposed it was only a matter of time before his hard-ass side came out, but so far so good.
They were posted in the unexplored sector this year and, thank god, the tour was about over. She was tired of being around the same 12 team members, several of whom were extremely hard to work with. But being partnered with Dak had kept her out of the worst of the infighting, and she would have enough saved after this tour that she could ground down and take a home job. She never in her wildest dreams would have chosen a home job, but yeah, now the time was right.
Things were quiet today. The small planet they were charting was pretty and interesting, a good combination. The team had scattered in the double-shot formation which took a little longer, but was always a good choice .... fewer chances of being caught off-guard or having to deal with a problem by yourself.
Dak was using the scanner while she took notes. She preferred taking notes, actually, since it gave her time to really look around at things. A pale blue sky, breatheable atmosphere, land, water, vegetation, animals -- this little planet had it all. Which wasn’t that unusual, really. When men finally left Earth and spread out through the universe, they discovered a large number of liveable planets, most of which were so similar to Earth as to be siblings. It was a happy surprise, especially since things on Earth had gotten so rotten there at the end.
History lessons wandered through her mind along with her observations about this planet. It was so new, so peaceful, so happy. “Dreaming about possibilities?” asked Dak quietly.
Shurl took a deep breath and sighed, “Yes. It just seems so .... so clean, so untouched by evil. I like it here.”
Dak studied her a moment longer, then shifted his attention back to the scanner. She was okay .... smarter than the other females he knew and pretty good about keeping her mouth shut. He couldn’t stand being around women who yakked and yakked and yakked -- drove him crazy. But out of all the partner choices, she was the best -- even better than the guys. God they had some dumb ones along on this tour. He couldn’t wait to report back to headquarters then take a long-overdue 3-month vacation .... all by himself.
It was another couple of minutes before he noticed the solid red light on his display. That wasn’t good. He checked the levels, scrolled through the read-outs, looked at the possibilites, figured the odds, micro-grieved his missed vacation, then turned to Shurl and calmly said, “We’re stuck in this place. The ship has mysteriously disappeared, 8 of the others are dead, 2 are missing. We are alone, unable to call for help, and unaware of what, specifically, happened to the others. We’re going to have to stay alert and cover each other’s back.” He watched as it moved across her face -- surprise, alarm, curiosity, humor, resignation, somber readiness. He continued, “Come on kid, let’s find a place to secure a camp. Your untouched place has some kind of evil after all.”
They were posted in the unexplored sector this year and, thank god, the tour was about over. She was tired of being around the same 12 team members, several of whom were extremely hard to work with. But being partnered with Dak had kept her out of the worst of the infighting, and she would have enough saved after this tour that she could ground down and take a home job. She never in her wildest dreams would have chosen a home job, but yeah, now the time was right.
Things were quiet today. The small planet they were charting was pretty and interesting, a good combination. The team had scattered in the double-shot formation which took a little longer, but was always a good choice .... fewer chances of being caught off-guard or having to deal with a problem by yourself.
Dak was using the scanner while she took notes. She preferred taking notes, actually, since it gave her time to really look around at things. A pale blue sky, breatheable atmosphere, land, water, vegetation, animals -- this little planet had it all. Which wasn’t that unusual, really. When men finally left Earth and spread out through the universe, they discovered a large number of liveable planets, most of which were so similar to Earth as to be siblings. It was a happy surprise, especially since things on Earth had gotten so rotten there at the end.
History lessons wandered through her mind along with her observations about this planet. It was so new, so peaceful, so happy. “Dreaming about possibilities?” asked Dak quietly.
Shurl took a deep breath and sighed, “Yes. It just seems so .... so clean, so untouched by evil. I like it here.”
Dak studied her a moment longer, then shifted his attention back to the scanner. She was okay .... smarter than the other females he knew and pretty good about keeping her mouth shut. He couldn’t stand being around women who yakked and yakked and yakked -- drove him crazy. But out of all the partner choices, she was the best -- even better than the guys. God they had some dumb ones along on this tour. He couldn’t wait to report back to headquarters then take a long-overdue 3-month vacation .... all by himself.
It was another couple of minutes before he noticed the solid red light on his display. That wasn’t good. He checked the levels, scrolled through the read-outs, looked at the possibilites, figured the odds, micro-grieved his missed vacation, then turned to Shurl and calmly said, “We’re stuck in this place. The ship has mysteriously disappeared, 8 of the others are dead, 2 are missing. We are alone, unable to call for help, and unaware of what, specifically, happened to the others. We’re going to have to stay alert and cover each other’s back.” He watched as it moved across her face -- surprise, alarm, curiosity, humor, resignation, somber readiness. He continued, “Come on kid, let’s find a place to secure a camp. Your untouched place has some kind of evil after all.”
true crime -- small town beat
October 10: A person asked officers to check on the safety of some kids after observing a man near them was acting strangely. Officers found the man: he had grown expressively frustrated while working on his car, but his kids appeared unfazed by the passing storm and did not appear to be in danger. Officers cleared without incident.
October 9: Dispatch advised they received a complaint of people loudly arguing in a vehicle parked at a gas station. Officers arrived and found three siblings arguing over music while their parents were away from the car. The family was reunited for a pleasant evening drive back across the border.
October 8: Police responded to a report of a large group of unsupervised teenagers drinking alcohol at a party. Officers investigated and contacted 15 area juveniles. Several who had been drinking were arrested. The parents of all the kids were contacted. A report of the incident was forwarded to the Juvenile Prosecutor for charging.
October 6: A resident reported hearing screams and the sound of someone stomping around in heavy woods near the border. A border patrol agent and police officer tracked the disturbance down to a pair of pranksters. Profiling indicates it was probably the screech owl's idea, but their deer friend did the legwork.
October 5: Officers responded to a home on a reported domestic dispute in progress. When police arrived, the male half of the incident locked himself in the bathroom and refused to come out, probably because he was wanted on a Superior Court felony warrant and two Municipal Court warrants. Officers flushed the suspect from his hidey hole in the cabinet under the bathroom sink and booked him into the county jail.
October 4: Police were dispatched to a residence regarding a family member who was violating his probation. The officer contacted the parties involved, investigated, and advised the family it appeared the son's use of profanity was not an explicit violation of his court order.
October 9: Dispatch advised they received a complaint of people loudly arguing in a vehicle parked at a gas station. Officers arrived and found three siblings arguing over music while their parents were away from the car. The family was reunited for a pleasant evening drive back across the border.
October 8: Police responded to a report of a large group of unsupervised teenagers drinking alcohol at a party. Officers investigated and contacted 15 area juveniles. Several who had been drinking were arrested. The parents of all the kids were contacted. A report of the incident was forwarded to the Juvenile Prosecutor for charging.
October 6: A resident reported hearing screams and the sound of someone stomping around in heavy woods near the border. A border patrol agent and police officer tracked the disturbance down to a pair of pranksters. Profiling indicates it was probably the screech owl's idea, but their deer friend did the legwork.
October 5: Officers responded to a home on a reported domestic dispute in progress. When police arrived, the male half of the incident locked himself in the bathroom and refused to come out, probably because he was wanted on a Superior Court felony warrant and two Municipal Court warrants. Officers flushed the suspect from his hidey hole in the cabinet under the bathroom sink and booked him into the county jail.
October 4: Police were dispatched to a residence regarding a family member who was violating his probation. The officer contacted the parties involved, investigated, and advised the family it appeared the son's use of profanity was not an explicit violation of his court order.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
a little bit
i haven't had time lately to put up the info about my trip to the black hills 'cause we've been helping our neighbor get her new place ready to move into -- she has a small restaurant and there's quite a bit of work that needs doin' before she can move into the new, excellent location.
but here are some pictures to pique your interest.....
one of the views from the poet's cabin --
a woodpecker cafe --
lovely sylvan lake --
but here are some pictures to pique your interest.....
one of the views from the poet's cabin --
a woodpecker cafe --
lovely sylvan lake --
Friday, October 13, 2006
a word
husband and i got our flu shots yesterday. we were heading into the drug store when i noticed their sign, so ... $25 later i am once again protected from that dastardly scourge of evil. at least from that particular strain.
i encourage you to get your shot. especially those of you with asthma or other lung conditions. better safe than sorry, it helps to be prepared, early to bed, an apple a day, and, after all, why not.
i encourage you to get your shot. especially those of you with asthma or other lung conditions. better safe than sorry, it helps to be prepared, early to bed, an apple a day, and, after all, why not.
a sign
ooooOOOOOOOooooohhh -- it's foggy outside .....
i just love weather like this 'cause it means it's getting cooler and soon i'll have to wear my flannels and my polartec and snuggle up under blankies .....
heaven!!!
i just love weather like this 'cause it means it's getting cooler and soon i'll have to wear my flannels and my polartec and snuggle up under blankies .....
heaven!!!
Monday, October 09, 2006
eschew your dentist? come to mine!
i love my dentist! she's very adept and is a total sweetheart! if you are in the bellingham area and want a great dentist, call Dr. Kelsey Ullsmith's office at 360.647.1715 and Courtney can make an appointment for you. Beth and Lorie are Dr. K's excellent assistants, and Debbie is the excellent hygienist.
Dr. K doesn't lay any guilt on you and is not pushy (although she does get in your face *grin*) and she's one of only a handful of professionals i've come across who sincerely and honestly deals with you and delicately deals with your gums and teeth. she plays different kinds of music, there are live flower arrangements scattered around, and candles burn soothingly in the waiting room. it's a gentle, quietly competent place, which is certainly what i want when i go to a dentist.
i highly recommend Dr. Ullsmith and her dream team!
Dr. K doesn't lay any guilt on you and is not pushy (although she does get in your face *grin*) and she's one of only a handful of professionals i've come across who sincerely and honestly deals with you and delicately deals with your gums and teeth. she plays different kinds of music, there are live flower arrangements scattered around, and candles burn soothingly in the waiting room. it's a gentle, quietly competent place, which is certainly what i want when i go to a dentist.
i highly recommend Dr. Ullsmith and her dream team!
vignette
“... so now let’s talk a little bit about what you want from this next life.”
“Hmmm. Well, there are a number of things that would be fun to try, but I guess the things that I think are most important are to have long thick beautiful dark hair and to have a lovely singing voice.”
“And the hair is important because ...”
“In my previous life my hair was the bane of my existence. It was thin and fine so it would never stay the way it was styled, and I had this natural part a little ways down from the top of my head so it always looked funny. So if my hair is pretty, maybe I’ll feel pretty and I won’t be so intimidated by the other girls and I can really enjoy myself when I’m flirting with all the boys.”
“I see ... pretty hair. Okay, and the singing ...”
“In my last life I was sort of an alto. I mean, I had a limited range, not much talent, and my voice seemed to break a lot, sort of like a yodel, and it was horrible so even though I enjoyed singing I couldn’t really sing in public since it sounded so bad. It was an awful thing to deal with. So in this life I would love to be able to sing soprano anytime anywhere and to sound like Barbra Streisand.”
“A wonderful voice ... and is that all? Special talent? Special skill?”
“No. Well, I guess I’d like to be pretty, too. Or at least attractive so I’ll have lots of boyfriends.”
“Okay. Have you given any thought to the main thing you’d like to work on in this next life?”
“Weeeell, I guess I need to be more patient and to stop being so bossy and to be nicer to the boys. But honestly, guys can be so stupid! And they never get jokes and they think slow and they take longer to grow up and it’s just frustrating. So like I said, maybe I need more patience.”
“All right. We’ve had a good discussion and now you will be moving on to the retreat where you will rest and quietly prepare yourself for your next journey. Remember that your gifts and challenges will be presented in a unique way so that your learning experience can be explored to the fullest.”
Some time later in rural west Texas, a young redneck and his spunky wife welcomed their first child into the world -- a beautiful, dark-haired baby boy.
“Hmmm. Well, there are a number of things that would be fun to try, but I guess the things that I think are most important are to have long thick beautiful dark hair and to have a lovely singing voice.”
“And the hair is important because ...”
“In my previous life my hair was the bane of my existence. It was thin and fine so it would never stay the way it was styled, and I had this natural part a little ways down from the top of my head so it always looked funny. So if my hair is pretty, maybe I’ll feel pretty and I won’t be so intimidated by the other girls and I can really enjoy myself when I’m flirting with all the boys.”
“I see ... pretty hair. Okay, and the singing ...”
“In my last life I was sort of an alto. I mean, I had a limited range, not much talent, and my voice seemed to break a lot, sort of like a yodel, and it was horrible so even though I enjoyed singing I couldn’t really sing in public since it sounded so bad. It was an awful thing to deal with. So in this life I would love to be able to sing soprano anytime anywhere and to sound like Barbra Streisand.”
“A wonderful voice ... and is that all? Special talent? Special skill?”
“No. Well, I guess I’d like to be pretty, too. Or at least attractive so I’ll have lots of boyfriends.”
“Okay. Have you given any thought to the main thing you’d like to work on in this next life?”
“Weeeell, I guess I need to be more patient and to stop being so bossy and to be nicer to the boys. But honestly, guys can be so stupid! And they never get jokes and they think slow and they take longer to grow up and it’s just frustrating. So like I said, maybe I need more patience.”
“All right. We’ve had a good discussion and now you will be moving on to the retreat where you will rest and quietly prepare yourself for your next journey. Remember that your gifts and challenges will be presented in a unique way so that your learning experience can be explored to the fullest.”
Some time later in rural west Texas, a young redneck and his spunky wife welcomed their first child into the world -- a beautiful, dark-haired baby boy.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
true crime -- small town beat
October 2: A resident reported vandalism to the exterior of their home. Cretins spray-painted graffiti on a garage door and placed nails on the driveway.
October 2: A person reported a man possibly trapping/killing ducks near the shore of the bay. An officer contacted the suspect and found he was a uniformed Fish and Wildlife officer, who was conducting a bona fide government health study of waterfowl which did not involve harm to the animals.
September 30: Officer was contacted by a mother who said her son refused to get into her car at the school. An officer met the parent at the school and talked to the eight-year-old, who ultimately agreed to accept transportation from his parent.
September 26: An officer responded to an emergency hang-up call and discovered the homeowner had been cleaning the phone and accidentally dialed 911. The housekeeping was under control.
September 24: An officer on routine patrol noticed a man acting suspiciously near a vehicle parked in the corner of a parking lot late at night. On contact the officer observed two marijuana joints in the vehicle. The driver said he had stopped to recover the marijuana, which he had hidden there earlier before crossing the border. Officer arrested the driver.
September 24: A family reported that someone entered their carport and took four bicycles valued at $305. Officers investigated, recovered the bicycles, and arrested the teenagers who had stolen them.
September 24: Police officers spent several hours tending to a herd of northbound motorists who were stranded on the truck route and interstate by a sudden lack of Canadian Customs inspectors. State patrol troopers and state DOT personnel assisted our officers in commiserating with motorists who were stacked two lanes deep for three miles down the freeway. Customs Canada supervisors kept as many lanes as possible open until their staffing returned to normal late in the evening.
September 24: Residents reported a housemate behaving strangely. Officers met with a gentleman who was very irritated and very demonstrative about his share of the housekeeping burden. Officers calmed him down and determined no crime was committed.
October 2: A person reported a man possibly trapping/killing ducks near the shore of the bay. An officer contacted the suspect and found he was a uniformed Fish and Wildlife officer, who was conducting a bona fide government health study of waterfowl which did not involve harm to the animals.
September 30: Officer was contacted by a mother who said her son refused to get into her car at the school. An officer met the parent at the school and talked to the eight-year-old, who ultimately agreed to accept transportation from his parent.
September 26: An officer responded to an emergency hang-up call and discovered the homeowner had been cleaning the phone and accidentally dialed 911. The housekeeping was under control.
September 24: An officer on routine patrol noticed a man acting suspiciously near a vehicle parked in the corner of a parking lot late at night. On contact the officer observed two marijuana joints in the vehicle. The driver said he had stopped to recover the marijuana, which he had hidden there earlier before crossing the border. Officer arrested the driver.
September 24: A family reported that someone entered their carport and took four bicycles valued at $305. Officers investigated, recovered the bicycles, and arrested the teenagers who had stolen them.
September 24: Police officers spent several hours tending to a herd of northbound motorists who were stranded on the truck route and interstate by a sudden lack of Canadian Customs inspectors. State patrol troopers and state DOT personnel assisted our officers in commiserating with motorists who were stacked two lanes deep for three miles down the freeway. Customs Canada supervisors kept as many lanes as possible open until their staffing returned to normal late in the evening.
September 24: Residents reported a housemate behaving strangely. Officers met with a gentleman who was very irritated and very demonstrative about his share of the housekeeping burden. Officers calmed him down and determined no crime was committed.
busted
well. it happened. the kid next door who kept playing his drums too loudly and drives a brightly-(hand)painted yellow van with rude slogans painted on it was taken away in handcuffs in the middle of the night last night.
the dad moved out last year, the mother was gone for the weekend (not for the first time and what is she thinking?!) and the kid, not for the first time in the last few months, had 'adult' beverages on hand and an open door. i noticed cars coming and going, kids in groups outside, and later a kid weaving his way to a waiting car before i went to bed at 10:30 pm.
this time, however, cops showed up around midnight (our neighbor called us to see if we were sick or had a problem, thank you jean) and after parents drove up to collect kids, coulton was lead to a waiting police car (which for some reason was parked blocking our driveway), cuffed, and at about 2 am was taken away into the night.
the mother will instantly blame us, although my thought is that the parents of the weaving kid called the cops. coulton is either being a stupid kid, crying out for help, needing a good spanking, or headed on a life of crime. yeah, he's still just a kid, but he's a high school senior and should be at least starting to make good decisions.
i like to see happy endings but sometimes it doesn't turn out that way. i wonder what's down the road for coulton...
the dad moved out last year, the mother was gone for the weekend (not for the first time and what is she thinking?!) and the kid, not for the first time in the last few months, had 'adult' beverages on hand and an open door. i noticed cars coming and going, kids in groups outside, and later a kid weaving his way to a waiting car before i went to bed at 10:30 pm.
this time, however, cops showed up around midnight (our neighbor called us to see if we were sick or had a problem, thank you jean) and after parents drove up to collect kids, coulton was lead to a waiting police car (which for some reason was parked blocking our driveway), cuffed, and at about 2 am was taken away into the night.
the mother will instantly blame us, although my thought is that the parents of the weaving kid called the cops. coulton is either being a stupid kid, crying out for help, needing a good spanking, or headed on a life of crime. yeah, he's still just a kid, but he's a high school senior and should be at least starting to make good decisions.
i like to see happy endings but sometimes it doesn't turn out that way. i wonder what's down the road for coulton...
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Sunday, September 17, 2006
i'm outta here
well, i'm fixin' to go for my annual play-week with my girlfriend. this year we are heading to the black hills of south dakota. she's never been there (her loss) and i haven't been back for a number of years. the husband and i spent a lot of time there during a 13-year period. well, lot of time as in at least once-a-year; after all, it was 10 hours away from where we lived.
i'm looking forward to seeing old places and reaquainting myself with all of the black hills' delights. if there's a wifi anywhere, i might be able to update as i go, but probably will have to wait until i get back.
crazy horse, the poet's cabin, mt rushmore, hill city, spearfish, silver city, keystone, custer, pactola, blue bell, sylvan lake, jewel cave, the old granite quarry, and more ..... it will be a fun and exciting time.
i'm looking forward to seeing old places and reaquainting myself with all of the black hills' delights. if there's a wifi anywhere, i might be able to update as i go, but probably will have to wait until i get back.
crazy horse, the poet's cabin, mt rushmore, hill city, spearfish, silver city, keystone, custer, pactola, blue bell, sylvan lake, jewel cave, the old granite quarry, and more ..... it will be a fun and exciting time.
Friday, September 15, 2006
O L H
i got an update from my brother on our dad. here's what he said:
"Today Dad moved into the new place. Crestview is in Milford, it is a very nice place. He went in quietly and the only time I saw him he was smiling and joking with the nurse. I didn't spend any time talking to him because when I finished signing the papers, which took about 50 minutes, he was sleeping. He will have a lot more room to roam, more people to joke with, and more access to the great outdoors. They have a wristlet on him to let them know if he goes out. They have more caregivers per resident so they think they'll be able to keep up with him. I wish them luck. His behavior has improved with the new regimen of medication."
this whole alzheimer's thing just sucks. he's gone, yet he's not. puhleeeeeeze do not allow me to go through that. even if we have to go to switzerland or amsterdam or somewhere, let's do me in and cut the sadness short.
"Today Dad moved into the new place. Crestview is in Milford, it is a very nice place. He went in quietly and the only time I saw him he was smiling and joking with the nurse. I didn't spend any time talking to him because when I finished signing the papers, which took about 50 minutes, he was sleeping. He will have a lot more room to roam, more people to joke with, and more access to the great outdoors. They have a wristlet on him to let them know if he goes out. They have more caregivers per resident so they think they'll be able to keep up with him. I wish them luck. His behavior has improved with the new regimen of medication."
this whole alzheimer's thing just sucks. he's gone, yet he's not. puhleeeeeeze do not allow me to go through that. even if we have to go to switzerland or amsterdam or somewhere, let's do me in and cut the sadness short.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
vignette
He put the book down, shook his head, then got up and approached the window. Another rainy day. That wasn’t so bad, really, the farmers could use it and so on and so forth and all that good-will-toward-man stuff. I’m just feeling down. And bored stiff. And completely disgusted that someone could write that kind of crap and get it sold, and yet here I am, a waaay better writer, and all I get is rejection slips. Sheesh. That bites...
He picked up the book he had just put down, shook his head again, and sneered as he tossed the thing in the trash. Good riddance... Then he snagged his coat off the hall tree, swung out the door, and headed down the front steps toward the park. Thank god his coat was water-proof and had a big hood which sloped just far enough past his eyebrows to keep the drizzle off his face. He needed to get out.
It was a quiet day, not many people in the streets, and the park was empty. He walked to the little shelter that was snugged into the trees and sat on one of the dry benches. If I can’t think of a plot here, I might as well throw in the towel... He let his mind wander, discarding scene after scene, until finally a few ideas started to jell.
Might as well start with a small, beribboned poodle in a large park... His eyes drifted past the trees, trying to find sinister underpinnings, as he absently noticed a dirty mutt nosing his way from bush to bush, totally unconcerned about the rain. A mysterious, darkly cloaked woman hurrying somewhere... He spied a thick stand of trees and bushes that looked perfect for nefarious activities. There was even an overgrown path leading into the snarls and brambles. The mutt lifted its head and gazed at a woman walking quickly down the sidewalk. She wore a brilliant red suit, a jaunty red hat, and sinfully high heels that made her legs go on forever. Her large umbrella was doing a good job of protecting everything from the rain except her gorgeous gams. Why did he never have a towel when he needed one?! Twice she dabbed at her face with her hanky and he wondered if it was the rain or if she was crying. Now there’s someone I’d like to be acquainted with...
He reluctantly refocused on his plot. An old jalopy parked close to where the woman walks past... Danger nearby... Boys playing a game of touch football, grappling as the ball gets knocked into the tangle of bushes... A shot rings out... He noted again that no one was out-and-about on this grey day. No one except the woman who would be passing near him soon. And, oddly enough, a black limo that was slowly creeping along the edge of the park. Where did that come from and who would be out cruising on a day like this... He tried to get his mind back on-track but his attention was diverted by a loud bang. Snapping his head toward the noise, he scanned the streets but saw nothing. Looking a bit longer, he finally decided it must have been a back-fire. Haven’t heard that in a long time...
He turned back to watch the woman walk by but she was gone. What the... He craned his neck, then stood up and checked every direction. Nothing was moving. Nothing except the mutt, who was sniffing and whining softly. What... He started off toward the mutt, then noticed the splash of bright red on the ground. Picking up his pace, he heard the squeal of tires as a vehicle raced away, and then he saw her on the ground ... the woman in the suit had been shot, the blood from her wound darkly staining the red material. “Move back, pooch, let me take a look.” Her eyes were closed, but she was breathing and he thought maybe it was just a shoulder hit. Still ... he slipped his cell phone out of his pocket and punched in 9-1-1. This is weird, man, just too weird...
He picked up the book he had just put down, shook his head again, and sneered as he tossed the thing in the trash. Good riddance... Then he snagged his coat off the hall tree, swung out the door, and headed down the front steps toward the park. Thank god his coat was water-proof and had a big hood which sloped just far enough past his eyebrows to keep the drizzle off his face. He needed to get out.
It was a quiet day, not many people in the streets, and the park was empty. He walked to the little shelter that was snugged into the trees and sat on one of the dry benches. If I can’t think of a plot here, I might as well throw in the towel... He let his mind wander, discarding scene after scene, until finally a few ideas started to jell.
Might as well start with a small, beribboned poodle in a large park... His eyes drifted past the trees, trying to find sinister underpinnings, as he absently noticed a dirty mutt nosing his way from bush to bush, totally unconcerned about the rain. A mysterious, darkly cloaked woman hurrying somewhere... He spied a thick stand of trees and bushes that looked perfect for nefarious activities. There was even an overgrown path leading into the snarls and brambles. The mutt lifted its head and gazed at a woman walking quickly down the sidewalk. She wore a brilliant red suit, a jaunty red hat, and sinfully high heels that made her legs go on forever. Her large umbrella was doing a good job of protecting everything from the rain except her gorgeous gams. Why did he never have a towel when he needed one?! Twice she dabbed at her face with her hanky and he wondered if it was the rain or if she was crying. Now there’s someone I’d like to be acquainted with...
He reluctantly refocused on his plot. An old jalopy parked close to where the woman walks past... Danger nearby... Boys playing a game of touch football, grappling as the ball gets knocked into the tangle of bushes... A shot rings out... He noted again that no one was out-and-about on this grey day. No one except the woman who would be passing near him soon. And, oddly enough, a black limo that was slowly creeping along the edge of the park. Where did that come from and who would be out cruising on a day like this... He tried to get his mind back on-track but his attention was diverted by a loud bang. Snapping his head toward the noise, he scanned the streets but saw nothing. Looking a bit longer, he finally decided it must have been a back-fire. Haven’t heard that in a long time...
He turned back to watch the woman walk by but she was gone. What the... He craned his neck, then stood up and checked every direction. Nothing was moving. Nothing except the mutt, who was sniffing and whining softly. What... He started off toward the mutt, then noticed the splash of bright red on the ground. Picking up his pace, he heard the squeal of tires as a vehicle raced away, and then he saw her on the ground ... the woman in the suit had been shot, the blood from her wound darkly staining the red material. “Move back, pooch, let me take a look.” Her eyes were closed, but she was breathing and he thought maybe it was just a shoulder hit. Still ... he slipped his cell phone out of his pocket and punched in 9-1-1. This is weird, man, just too weird...
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
money laundering
1. remove from dirty confines,
2. put in container of hot soapy water,
3. let sit a bit,
4. scrub with toothbrush,
5. rinse,
6. set aside to dry.
2. put in container of hot soapy water,
3. let sit a bit,
4. scrub with toothbrush,
5. rinse,
6. set aside to dry.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Saturday, September 09, 2006
stars in the sky
Q: What's wrong with this image?
A: This image clearly shows the moon, a laser beam, and a photon torpedo about to hit the observatory.
Ok, well I just made up the laser beam and photon torpedo, but the moon is definitely a problem. Because the cameras are so sensitive, when the moon rises it actually blinds them-somewhat akin to a person looking at the sun.
Q: Are there any cool CONCAM images around to see and discuss?
A: No. The Night Sky Live project is inherently boring.
Well, perhaps there are a few images that are sort-of cool.
http://nightskylive.net/NightSkyLive_for_beginners.html
*grin* i just love it when scientist-types have a sense of humor!
Friday, September 08, 2006
vignette
“Katie, did Corwin tell you what time he was going to come in today?”
Startled, Katie dropped the U-screw she’d been trying to work into the screw hole and watched as it drifted away. Damn it! She was in trouble now. Those screws were hard to come by and if it floated into the mesh Small Net Sensor System, it would blow it out, to say nothing of scaring everyone in the dome. Hell, she just had to hope her luck held out and that the screw would drift close enough to the energy generators that the magnetism would capture it benignly to the partial-metal surface.
“Katie, did he tell you?”
“Sorry, sir. No. He didn’t talk to me, but I think he was scheduled for his service re-check so he might be late.”
The chief walked away mumbling about service re-checks and the difficulty of finding replacements when someone was re-upped. Katie waited just until he had gone inside the airlock, then unhooked her safety tether and worked her way in the direction she’d last seen the screw. You’d think I be able to spot it since it is ult-orange, after all. Suddenly she did see it and froze, watching in stunned horror as the screw slowly made contact with the SNSS mesh. That simple little touch set off subterranean alarms, plus-gaged all airlocks, and was going to set the perimeter guard in 10 seconds.
Without thinking she slammed into her survival routine, bounding straight up as far as she could manage, twisting herself so as to be pointing towards the mountains on this little planet, then releasing the tiny burst of em-air which should propel her far enough away from the dome that she wouldn’t be picked up on the laser and vaporized.
Damn damn damn! She scanned the surface as it slowly unrolled, trying to find the emergency hut that had been set-up for just this scenario. It was disguised, of course, since they weren’t the only intelligent beings in the vicinity, which was the reason for the SNSS after all. Well hell! She was gradually slowing and if she didn’t locate it pretty quickly, she was sunk.
She reviewed her options: (a) Find the hut. (b) Die. Well, that’s concise. Hmmm, I think I’ll choose...(a)! The sound of her giggle brought her back to reality and grimly she focused on scanning the entire area as far as she could see. There! She spotted what she was sure was the hut and was relieved that it was almost directly in her path.
Finally she was close enough she could radio the rescue net, which shot into the air and deployed nicely just ahead. She watched herself drift into the net, then grabbed with both hands and started pulling herself down toward the hut. Just before she reached the tops of the mountains she glanced in the direction she had recently come from. Bursts of light? The lasers are active ... that can’t be ... unless ... Oh hell, she was still in trouble. A light show like that one didn’t happen by accident; there was something bad going on.
Fairly quickly she reached the hut, engaged the net retrieval system, secured herself inside, and sank to the floor. That ... was unbelievable! She started laughing, then promptly burst into tears. After a little bit she was done with that, and got up to blow her nose and wipe away the tears. Now! She took a deep breath and checked out the hut -- comm system...functioning, perimeter guard...turned on, hut maintenance...functioning, surveillance...beeping. Beeping? Crap! Now what?!!
Startled, Katie dropped the U-screw she’d been trying to work into the screw hole and watched as it drifted away. Damn it! She was in trouble now. Those screws were hard to come by and if it floated into the mesh Small Net Sensor System, it would blow it out, to say nothing of scaring everyone in the dome. Hell, she just had to hope her luck held out and that the screw would drift close enough to the energy generators that the magnetism would capture it benignly to the partial-metal surface.
“Katie, did he tell you?”
“Sorry, sir. No. He didn’t talk to me, but I think he was scheduled for his service re-check so he might be late.”
The chief walked away mumbling about service re-checks and the difficulty of finding replacements when someone was re-upped. Katie waited just until he had gone inside the airlock, then unhooked her safety tether and worked her way in the direction she’d last seen the screw. You’d think I be able to spot it since it is ult-orange, after all. Suddenly she did see it and froze, watching in stunned horror as the screw slowly made contact with the SNSS mesh. That simple little touch set off subterranean alarms, plus-gaged all airlocks, and was going to set the perimeter guard in 10 seconds.
Without thinking she slammed into her survival routine, bounding straight up as far as she could manage, twisting herself so as to be pointing towards the mountains on this little planet, then releasing the tiny burst of em-air which should propel her far enough away from the dome that she wouldn’t be picked up on the laser and vaporized.
Damn damn damn! She scanned the surface as it slowly unrolled, trying to find the emergency hut that had been set-up for just this scenario. It was disguised, of course, since they weren’t the only intelligent beings in the vicinity, which was the reason for the SNSS after all. Well hell! She was gradually slowing and if she didn’t locate it pretty quickly, she was sunk.
She reviewed her options: (a) Find the hut. (b) Die. Well, that’s concise. Hmmm, I think I’ll choose...(a)! The sound of her giggle brought her back to reality and grimly she focused on scanning the entire area as far as she could see. There! She spotted what she was sure was the hut and was relieved that it was almost directly in her path.
Finally she was close enough she could radio the rescue net, which shot into the air and deployed nicely just ahead. She watched herself drift into the net, then grabbed with both hands and started pulling herself down toward the hut. Just before she reached the tops of the mountains she glanced in the direction she had recently come from. Bursts of light? The lasers are active ... that can’t be ... unless ... Oh hell, she was still in trouble. A light show like that one didn’t happen by accident; there was something bad going on.
Fairly quickly she reached the hut, engaged the net retrieval system, secured herself inside, and sank to the floor. That ... was unbelievable! She started laughing, then promptly burst into tears. After a little bit she was done with that, and got up to blow her nose and wipe away the tears. Now! She took a deep breath and checked out the hut -- comm system...functioning, perimeter guard...turned on, hut maintenance...functioning, surveillance...beeping. Beeping? Crap! Now what?!!
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
no nonsense
Lawyer 1: “Your Honor, my client sat down to have breakfast and ordered waffles, orange juice, and coffee. When the order came my client took a drink of coffee and it was so hot, he dropped the cup and spilled hot coffee all over his lap causing burns and humiliation. We are suing for $100,000 for physical damages and mental suffering.”
Judge: “Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to gulp hot coffee? Grow up and take care of your irresponsible self. Case dismissed. Next.”
-----
Lawyer 2: “Your Honor, my client trespassed on a posted lot, broke into the empty house, and fell through a hole in the floor, breaking his leg and several ribs. We are suing for $300,000 for physical damages and mental suffering.”
Judge: “Don’t you know how to read? Grow up and learn some respect for others -- you’re going to jail. Case concluded. Next.”
-----
Lawyer 3: “Your Honor, my client plays his drums in his own home which helps keep him from becoming a juvenile delinquent but the neighbors whine about the volume. We are suing for $50,000 for mental trauma and disrespect.”
Judge: “You’re the whiney-butt, you immature little pissant. You’re not number one in anybody’s world except your own. If you don’t learn how to be considerate of others, you’ll be back in front of me just long enough for me to throw the book at you. Case dismissed. Next.”
-----
Lawyer 4: “Your Honor, my client stands on a street corner for hours at a time, holding a sign imploring people to give him money so that he will have nourishment. We are suing the city for $500,000 for mental turmoil because the police aren’t doing anything about drivers flipping him off.”
Judge: “Go out and get an honest job, you scumbag. If you keep looking for a handout, I’m going to put you on a chain gang and that will teach you how to work. Case dismissed. Next.”
-----
Lawyer 5: “Your Honor, my client was CEO of a prosperous company but was fired because of some silly little stock fraud which led the company to keep half of his golden parachute. We are suing for $500,000,000 for mental anguish.”
Judge: “You’re lucky they didn’t tell you to go fly a kite. People like you should have to go to jail simply because you breathe. Take your unscrupulous self, a backpack full of food but no money, and go live on No-Man’s Island for two years. If you can survive that, maybe you’ll learn some real values. Case concluded. Next.”
Judge: “Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to gulp hot coffee? Grow up and take care of your irresponsible self. Case dismissed. Next.”
-----
Lawyer 2: “Your Honor, my client trespassed on a posted lot, broke into the empty house, and fell through a hole in the floor, breaking his leg and several ribs. We are suing for $300,000 for physical damages and mental suffering.”
Judge: “Don’t you know how to read? Grow up and learn some respect for others -- you’re going to jail. Case concluded. Next.”
-----
Lawyer 3: “Your Honor, my client plays his drums in his own home which helps keep him from becoming a juvenile delinquent but the neighbors whine about the volume. We are suing for $50,000 for mental trauma and disrespect.”
Judge: “You’re the whiney-butt, you immature little pissant. You’re not number one in anybody’s world except your own. If you don’t learn how to be considerate of others, you’ll be back in front of me just long enough for me to throw the book at you. Case dismissed. Next.”
-----
Lawyer 4: “Your Honor, my client stands on a street corner for hours at a time, holding a sign imploring people to give him money so that he will have nourishment. We are suing the city for $500,000 for mental turmoil because the police aren’t doing anything about drivers flipping him off.”
Judge: “Go out and get an honest job, you scumbag. If you keep looking for a handout, I’m going to put you on a chain gang and that will teach you how to work. Case dismissed. Next.”
-----
Lawyer 5: “Your Honor, my client was CEO of a prosperous company but was fired because of some silly little stock fraud which led the company to keep half of his golden parachute. We are suing for $500,000,000 for mental anguish.”
Judge: “You’re lucky they didn’t tell you to go fly a kite. People like you should have to go to jail simply because you breathe. Take your unscrupulous self, a backpack full of food but no money, and go live on No-Man’s Island for two years. If you can survive that, maybe you’ll learn some real values. Case concluded. Next.”
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