“Hey, Lucy. It’s Friday. Let’s kick out” “You must be the smallest horse on the planet Little Potato.”
Another Friday has rolled around. The winter vortex is in full force. I’ve been getting reports from the North on terrifying stories about getting stranded in the cold. Reminds us all to take warm outerwear whenever we venture out. It is way too easy to be caught in the elements and then be made to suffer the effects of the cold.
Here in South Texas, we don’t have the kind of cold that is capable of taking life. We start to complain at 70 degrees and whine at 40 but don’t have to worry about a life-threatening situation. I hope everyone stays safe and remembers to toss in some heavy outdoor wear even if you are only going to the store.
Today’s JohnKu discusses the cold. I hope you all have a beautiful weekend.
“Is it Friday?” “No, it’s Wednesday.” “I’ll continue with my sunbath until Friday then.”
It is Wednesday Story Day again, and last week we saw Larry try to contact Gloria about how to get evidence on Cortez. We were all surprised to find out Gloria was on holiday. Our biggest shock was the knowledge that spirits take holidays. Before he left Micki’s shop, she suggested that he try to get the goods on one of Cortez’s confidants and then have the confidant supply information on Cortez. I believe the phrase is “rat out Cortez.” Larry is just getting back to his office where Andrew is waiting.
“Hey, Andrew.”
“You look pretty glum chum.”
“Longfellow you are not. I just came from Micki’s shop.”
“Micki? Ah, a delightful person.”
“She gives you her best.”
“I wish I had gone with you.”
“For more tea?”
“You are funny, Larry. How’d you know about tea?”
“She offered me a cup.”
“A cup? She was really talking about tea then.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, never mind. Did you get in touch with Gloria?”
“No, she was on vacation.”
“Excuse me? I’ve never heard of a spirit going on vacation.”
“Yeah, spare me. I have a headache.”
“So what’s our next move?”
“Let’s get a list of all of Cortez’s closest associates. I think we can nab one of them for something and get him to turn state’s evidence in exchange for information on Cortez’s involvement with the murder.”
“So, you really think he killed Sandusky?”
“If not, I’m certain he ordered it.”
“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to take one of those criminals off the street.”
“We have to get someone high enough in his organization to make it meaningful.”
“You got the list?”
“Let’s sit down at my computer, and you can look over my shoulder while I go through the Cortez file.”
“I didn’t know you had a Cortez file.”
“Yeah, we have been watching him for a few years.”
“Let’s do it.”
“While this blunderbuss is warming up, would you be so kind as to get us a cup of coffee.”
“Wonderful idea, Boss. Be right back.”
“Of course, the phone. Hello. Yes, this is detective Dunfee.”
“I’m back.”
“Hush. It’s Cortez’ office. Yes, I’m here. What can I do for you? Of course. Three o’clock. That would be fine. Thank you. Goodbye.”
In Keith’s words. “Using this photo (below) as inspiration, write a short story, flash fiction, scene, poem; anything, really; even just a caption for the photograph. Either put it (or a link to it) in a comment or email it to me at keithchanning@gmail.com before 6pm next Sunday (if you aren’t sure what the time is where I live, this link will tell you). If you post it on your own blog or site, a link to this page would be appreciated, but please do also mention it in a comment here.
Go on. You know you want to. Let your creativity and imagination soar. I shall display the entries next Monday.”
This post continues the Top Ten Things Not to Do with a historical background. This week is the anniversary of the 1901 smashing of twelve saloons in Kansas by women prohibitionists lead by Carrie Nation. If you have the ability to time travel to that event this list is designed to keep you out of trouble.
10 If you are there with Carrie Nation, do not try to sneak a sip from your flask of Jack Daniels. If you do, at best you’ll be unseen. At worst, the prohibitionist will be tempted to treat you like a piece of the bar. ( You should have thought about that drink, Garbhan. Maybe the fact that everyone was wielding a hatchet might have given you a hint. Lucky you got hit with the dull end.)
9 If you are there with Carrie Nation, do not try to hold on to your bottle while Tiny the WWF champ is attempting to pull it from your hand. If you do, at best it will slip out. At worst, Tiny who just lost his last marble in a game has no intention of losing a tug of war over a bottle of bourbon. (Best to let him have it, Garet. His big hand is on your head, and he is getting ready to squeeze. I’ve seen him open cantaloupes this way)
8 If you are there with Carrie Nation, do not wear your “One Man One Vote” T-shirt. If you do, at best you can talk fast and save yourself. At worst, it will be assumed you are not in favor of women’s suffrage. (That would be like wearing a honey coated shirt to a bear convention, Garrard. Just not done.)
7 If you are there with Carrie Nation, do not shed a tear as all those bottles of booze get smashed. If you do, at best they may think something got in your eye. At worst, you might be mistaken for an anti-temperance person. (Getting tossed out of the bar on your ear is better than a lot of possibilities, Garrson. Consider yourself lucky.)
6 If you are there with Carrie Nation, do not try to sing hymns if you don’t know the words. If you do, at best someone may find you a hymnal. At worst, the group may consider you an outsider and want you gone. (If you had only hummed the tune, you would have been home free, Garton. BTW it is “Bringing in the Sheaves” not “Hide the Shives.”
5 If you are with Carrie Nation, do offer to order take out after the “hatchetations.” If you do, at best no one will understand what you mean. At worst, you will give your time traveler status away. (There are still a lot of people who believe in witches, Garwood. Looks like a big pile of firewood is left from the bar. I think I would book out of there.)
4 If you are with Carrie Nation, do not start talking about the Kansas City Chiefs while chopping up saloons. If you do, at best you will be ignored. At worst, someone will ask you what you are talking about. (Since the Kansas City Chiefs were named in 1963 you are a little ahead of yourself, Gavino. Also, Ms. Nation wants to speak in private. Never a good thing.)
3 If you are with Carrie Nation, do not mistakenly call her Lizzy Bordon. If you do at best, she never heard of Lizzy. At worst, since Lizzy became famous in 1892, Carrie is well aware of who she is. (Good luck trying to explain it was the hatchet that made you make the mistake, Gearald. You see Lizzy was accused of using an ax to commit murder.)
2 If you are with Carrie Nation, do not argue with her when she claims to have invented the airplane. If you do, at best she will tire of trying to convince you. At worst, she will tire of you. (You have to remember she is the one with the hatchet, Gedalyahu. You’ve seen that look in her eye before.)
1 If you are with Carrie Nation, try not to be arrested by the police. If you do, at best you are only charged with a misdemeanor. At worst, the police have decided to make an example of the Carrie Nation and her band. (The judge has given you a fine that amounts to over $15,000 in today’s money, Gennadi. I think you should hot the time travel button and get out of there. I hope you didn’t give them your real name.)
Today is a sampling of some things. I started with the idea of face boards and then got a little distracted with other things along the way. I hope you enjoy today’s tour.
Here is a face board for a storage facility. You can also see their Farley boat.
This is in front of our vet’s office
Stingrays is a restaurant and bar
This is the Gaff’s face board. Notice that annoying fender in the way.
The fender belongs to the Gaff staff car
Of course, there are belt sander races this weekend. No, we are not going.
I love this blessing box.
A little lending library too.
The front of a gift shop.
Oceans of Seafood. A bar and restaurant.
A reminder of what can happen if you are not careful.
Coastal Ed’s Gold Cart rental
The tackle shop
The souvenir shop
A dolphin in the parking lot. Blown off the building by Hurricane Harvey.
A giant chambered nautilus sharing the fate of the dolphin.
Wilton’s Candy board
Winton’s door showing the water line of Harvey.
This one is for Craig Boyack and his Voyage of the Lanternfish pirate fantasy story.
It is Stream of Consciousness Saturday again and this weeks prompt is “ad/add/AD (Anno Domini).” There is good news, Linda Hill says there are bonus points if we use all in the post today. I’m all over the bonus points cause this week’s points added to the three years previous points get me that Grande Mocha Latte I have been wanting. If you would like to have your wants fulfilled, go to Linda’s blog and find out how. Here is the link.
Ah, another Friday which is another word for par-teee. Always nice to see the eve of the weekend. I hope your week was a good one. Gwen Plano and I received our manuscript back from the editor and were both impressed with the quality of work. She did a marvelous job taking our text and helping the story. Of course, Gwen and I tried to write a book all while having surgeries. I would not recommend that profile to anyone.
As we say, all is well that ends well and we are now hopeful of having a book that folks will enjoy reading. We decided to go with a mystery story rather than a thriller.
The title is The Predator a world domination fight to the finish.
Here is a preliminary blurb:
After the death of Brad and Sarah, it is apparent that a force is behind a plot to take over the leadership of the world. The murder of the two becomes only one small piece of a sinister plan to eliminate world leaders and take control.
Governments are infiltrated with the perpetrator’s allies and minions so no one can be trusted.
A small band of Brad and Sarah’s admirer’s vow to stop the evil expansion and eliminate the leader. The group comes under attack, and the question becomes will they survive and stop The Predator before the word is lost?
Today’s JohnKu talks about trying to do too much. I hope you have a great weekend.
“Lucy. I think I see Friday from here.” “Sorry Little Potato that is Wednesday wearing a Friday hat.”
It is Wednesday Story Day again and last week we were there when Andrew and Larry discussed what to do as a result of Larry insulting Cortez to his face. The best Larry could come up with is to “find somebody who really knows what went on.” I think we all did a double take on that one since it would require finding someone who would be willing to rat out the biggest killer on the planet. Let’s get back to Larry since he is walking into Micki’s fortune telling shop.
“Why hello detective. Glad to see you again.”
“Hi, Ms. Lee. I think I need some help again.”
“You can call me Micki. What’s the problem now?”
“Gloria told me to follow the motive and I would find the suspect in the Sandusky murder.”
“So?”
“We think we found the motive.”
“Okay. Who is the “we?’”
“Andrew and me.”
“Oh, that too handsome for his clothes, Andrew?”
“Er. I suppose.”
“We had such a nice cup of tea.”
“Yes, well. I wonder if we can talk to Gloria?”
“I think that could be arranged. Come with me.”
“Thank you.”
“Make yourself comfortable. Close your eyes and I’ll see if Gloria is available.”
“Oh, my goodness, detective. Gloria is on holiday.”
“On holiday? How do you know that?”
“There is a note on her ethereal portal.”
“Ethereal portal? What the heck is an ethereal portal.”
“It is the place where I go to summon a spirit. Each spirit has their own.”
“You say Gloria is on holiday.”
“Yes, she will be gone for two of our weeks.”
“Where the heck did she go for a holiday if she is in heaven?”
“She really didn’t say. I’ll read you the note. Hello all. Thank you for stopping by but I have gone on holiday and will be back next lune day. Love, Gloria.”
“Hello, all. Who is she talking about?”
“I’m sure it is a message for her heavenly friends.”
“Well, that just takes the cake. I may not be alive in two weeks.”
“My goodness, detective. What is the problem?”
“It is a long story, Ms. Lee. I’m sure you have better things to do than hear my troubles.”
“Would it have anything to do with that horrible man Cortez?”
“How on Earth did you know.”
“It’s not Earth where I get my information. I have other sources.”
“So, what am I to do.”
“If it were me, and it is not me, you understand. I would get the goods on one of his closest associates and see if you can get him to turn against Cortez.”
“I had the same idea, and Andrew pooh-poohed it.”
“He’s good looking but not always far-sighted.”
“Okay then. You’ve made me feel a lot better. I think a lot of folks thought I had lost it.”
“You had better work quickly though. I can feel the wrath of Cortez starting to build.”
“He killed Sandusky, right?”
“I’m not that sure. If you can get someone to tell you what went down that night, I think you can make a case. Now, how about a nice hot cup of tea before you leave?”
